More than 200 Indian Jews from the Bnei Menashe community have actively joined or reserved combat duty since the October 7 terror assault, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, citing the Shavei Israel non-profit organization.
“More than 200 Indian Jews, members of the Bnei Menashe community, made Aliyah since the October 7 massacre and were called up for either reserve or active combat duty, the Shavei Israel nonprofit announced Monday,” The Jerusalem Post report said. “Aliyah” means “immigration to Israel.”
The Bnei Menashe community, originating from the northeastern Indian states of Mizoram and Manipur, practices a form of biblical Judaism and claims descent from one of the Lost Tribes of Israel.
The Shavei Israel organization, which advocates for the mass immigration of the Bnei Menashe community, is reported to have received numerous requests from community members in northeastern India to make Aliyah and join the IDF to support Israel in its fight against the Hamas terrorist group.
According to The Jerusalem Post, the Jerusalem-based non-profit Shavei Israel, founded by Michael Freund, aims to strengthen ties between Diaspora communities across the globe and the State of Israel. As per the nonprofit, they have been lobbying for the mass immigration of the Bnei Menashe community, which claims it is descended from one of the Lost Tribes of Israel, for over two decades in various capacities.
Freund told The Jerusalem Post in May that “there are a total of about 5,000 Menashe people left in India who have been requesting to immigrate to Israel for many years.”
According to Shavei Israel, 99% of all men of military age who immigrated from India joined Israel’s fight against the Hamas terrorist group, while 90% of women enrolled in National Service.
“Since the war broke out, Shavei Israel has received hundreds of requests from young community members in northeastern India asking to make Aliyah immediately,” Freund said. “Not only that – they are asking to join the IDF immediately to fight shoulder to shoulder with their brothers and sisters.”
Who are the Bnei Menashe?
According to the Shavei Israel, the Bnei Menashe (sons of Manasseh) claim descent from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, who were sent into exile by the Assyrian Empire more than 27 centuries ago.
Their ancestors wandered through Central Asia and the Far East for centuries, before settling in what is now northeastern India, along the border with Burma and Bangladesh.
Throughout their sojourn in exile, the Bnei Menashe continued to practice Judaism just as their ancestors did, including observing the Sabbath, keeping kosher, celebrating the festivals and following the laws of family purity. And they continued to nourish the dream of one day returning to the land of their ancestors, the Land of Israel.