At least 240 members of the Bnei Menashe community from northeast India arrived in Israel on April 23, marking a major step in a long-running migration driven by religious identity and historical belief. The group, drawn from Manipur and Mizoram, believes it descends from the biblical tribe of Manasseh, one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel.
The arrivals, who landed at Ben-Gurion Airport on Thursday, are part of Operation “Wings of Dawn,” a joint initiative led by the Aliyah and Integration Ministry and the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), The Jerusalem Post reported. The flight is the first in a series expected over the coming weeks, with approximately 600 immigrants set to arrive in three waves.
Ancient Origins and Migration Narrative
The Bnei Menashe trace their origins to the Assyrian exile of the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC, according to Al Jazeera. Oral traditions, cited by The Times of Israel, describe a prolonged migration through regions including Persia, Afghanistan, Tibet and China before eventual settlement in northeast India several centuries ago. The community maintains that it preserved elements of ancient Jewish practices during this journey.
Community Identity in India
According to Degel Menashe, the Bnei Menashe are part of the Chin, Kuki and Mizo ethnic groups, with an estimated population of around 10,000. Known locally as Shinlung, they historically followed tribal religious traditions before exposure to Christianity during British rule. Over time, sections of the community began identifying parallels between their customs and those described in the Hebrew Bible.
Shift from Christianity to Judaism
The transition toward Judaism gained momentum in the mid-20th century. Al Jazeera reports that a 1951 vision by a Mizo religious leader inspired many to reconnect with what they believed to be their Israelite roots. In subsequent decades, especially from the 1970s onward, a Judaizing movement emerged. By the 1980s, Israeli rabbi Eliyahu Avichayil played a key role in guiding the community in formal Jewish practices.
Religious Life and Recognition
Today, the Bnei Menashe follow Orthodox Jewish customs, including observance of dietary laws and religious rituals. However, as noted by The Times of Israel and Ynetnews, Israel does not automatically recognize them as Jewish under the Law of Return. Migrants are therefore required to undergo formal conversion upon arrival to remove any religious doubt.
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Debate Over Ancestry
The origins of the community remain contested. Scientific studies have not conclusively established Middle Eastern genetic links, though some research suggests limited maternal connections. Despite this, Israel’s Sephardi chief rabbi recognized the Bnei Menashe in 2005 as “descendants of Israel,” enabling their migration under supervised conversion procedures.
Operation Wings of Dawn
The current phase of migration is part of a government-backed initiative to relocate the remaining community members to Israel. Thousands are expected to arrive in stages, with integration support including housing, language training and employment assistance. “Operation Wings of Dawn” is an Israeli initiative to airlift and relocate thousands of Bnei Menashe community members from Northeast India to Israel. Initiated by Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, it aims to bring roughly 6,000 “lost tribe” members home by 2030.
Latest Developments
The new immigrants are expected to be housed in absorption centers in northern Israel, including Nof HaGalil and Kiryat Yam, where they will receive support as they transition into life in the country. It is the first such group since the November announcement to bring thousands more over the next five years. Two additional flights are scheduled in the next two weeks.
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The community, which has been migrating since the 1990s, has seen about 4,000 members settle in Israel, with around 6,000 still in India, according to PTI. The Israeli government plans to bring 1,200 more by the end of 2026 under “Operation Wings of Dawn.”
The relocation plan, estimated at 90 million shekels, will cover travel, housing, Hebrew lessons and conversion processes. The effort is being coordinated by multiple Israeli agencies, including the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and The Jewish Agency. (With inputs from agencies)
