Why the Bnei Menashe of Manipur are seeking the promised land

At a Bnei Menashe synagogue in Tuibong, Churachandpur, Manipur—one of the oldest synagogues in the region—a few young men were busy with housekeeping and volunteering work. The synagogue also serves as a relief camp for Kukis and Zomis who fled the Imphal Valley and whose villages lie along the fringe of the sensitive inter-district border areas.

One of the youth leaders, who hesitatingly introduced himself as Samuel, immediately warned during the first interaction that they were strictly prohibited by their elders and leaders from speaking to the media or to anyone inquiring about their planned journey, or Aliyah, to Israel.

The members do not feel comfortable sharing their names and are reluctant to talk about the Aliyah. Moreover, they are not in a position to confirm or reveal much about their future. For now, they are simply “waiting” for the Israeli government to “take them” to the promised land.

All those EastMojo spoke to said there was not much more to say, as it was already publicly known that they were being taken to Israel. Beyond that, they insisted, there was nothing further to add.

Samuel, who prefers to be identified by only one name, said, “It is between the government of Israel and the Indian government now; you may seek more information from the Israeli government.”

Late last year, in 2025, the Israeli government launched Operation Wings of Dawn to relocate the Bnei Menashe population from Northeast India—particularly Manipur and Mizoram—to Israel.

Under the initiative, the Israeli government reportedly plans to bring all Bnei Menashe members, estimated to number around 5,000, to Israel within the next two to three years.

Immigration to Israel by the Bnei Menashe has been taking place for a long time. However, it has drawn greater media attention now because of the ongoing Middle East war and the continuing crisis in Manipur.

Particularly in Manipur, where violent conflict between the Meiteis and the Kukis and kindred tribes erupted in May 2023, with tensions still simmering, the Bnei Menashe are unwilling to openly speak or express themselves.

One key reason is that many Meiteis, who are predominantly Hindus, have accused the Kukis and Zomis of being illegal immigrants in Manipur. As a result, the Aliyah has become an extremely sensitive subject.

One youth remarked, “The Meiteis are calling us illegal immigrants. The ongoing crisis has made it a sensitive issue and has further complicated things.”

“The interview is ongoing,” commented another youth. “All the members are being interviewed; whoever qualifies will be taken to Israel.”

Families, both young and old, are being scrutinised. Those who already have family members in Israel, or whose relatives have previously migrated there, are reportedly given priority.

Members say representatives from the Israeli government travelled to Northeast India to conduct interviews.

This time, however, the interviews are being held in Mizoram, even for members from Manipur, due to the ongoing situation in the state. A group of around a hundred people is also reported to have recently been taken to Israel.

The interview, as they describe it, is an interactive session designed to understand the individual better and assess whether they are fully committed to Judaism and knowledgeable about the Torah.

It also seeks to determine whether they properly follow the rituals, regulations, and requirements necessary to be accepted as practising Jews. The qualification rules and regulations are mandatory. For instance, one must know and practise the Torah with full commitment in both belief and deed. They must be fully “converted.”

“Each and every member is minutely examined. Otherwise, they will not accept you,” said one young member. “Not just any x, y, z who wants to immigrate to Israel is accepted,” added another.

“A certain family was actually deported back for deviating,” shared a young woman.

The idea or belief surrounding the “lost tribe” or the children of Bnei Menashe is not new in Manipur or Mizoram. One of the Beith Shalom synagogues in Churachandpur, for instance, was established as far back as 1976.

Samuel vehemently denied that the present Manipur crisis was one of the causes behind the “large immigration” or growing desire for migration. This view was echoed by other Bnei Menashe members as well. The Bnei Menashe community from Manipur and Mizoram has been migrating to Israel for a long time.

The youth leader said, “At every interval, the Aliyah has been happening. The last time it happened was in 2021.”

There has now been a gap, and the Israeli government is reportedly pushing the process more seriously. This time, the plan is to take all members of the so-called “lost tribe” to Israel batch by batch.

Aliyah refers to the immigration of Jews from the diaspora to Israel, a central concept in Zionism symbolising a return to the ancestral homeland.

“It has no connection with the Manipur crisis, though the conflict has made it sensitive and difficult for the interviews to take place in Manipur,” said Samuel.

Samuel’s rationale is straightforward: “It is obvious, as per the Bible, that we are going to the promised land.”

One fact remains evident among the approximately 5,000 Bnei Menashe currently living in Manipur: the attraction of Israel is a major factor behind the desire to migrate. The pull factors include job opportunities, employment stability, and a better quality of life in Israel.

The belief in and longing for “the promised land” or “homecoming” is deeply rooted among Bnei Menashe members in both Manipur and Mizoram. It is an emotional aspiration—a longing and dream of a promised land “flowing with milk and honey,” as described in the Bible.

For many, it is the imagination of a better place and a better standard of living, something they feel is incomparable to their present rural lives in Manipur.

The Bnei Menashe in Northeast India are largely tribal communities belonging to Kuki, Zomi, or Mizo groups, many of whom remain socially, economically, and politically disadvantaged.

For these tribal communities, many believe that rather than continuing to live as second-class citizens in Northeast India or Manipur, it is far more reasonable to immigrate to Israel.

One young Bnei Menashe member bluntly said, “Why waste time here, where there is no opportunity?” Another remarked, “Here in Manipur, we are just a small minority, an ST.”

Chingpi, a middle-aged mother who will also eventually leave for Israel, said, “In Israel it is not like that.” She explained that migrants receive citizenship within three months of arrival and are naturalised quickly. However, they still continue to retain their clan names.

“We are under the umbrella of Bnei Menashe,” Chingpi explained. “And we maintain each of our clans.” Members typically adopt a Hebrew first name while retaining their original clan surname—for example, a Hebrew name combined with a Kuki surname.

Preparing to leave for Israel at any time, Sarah, a young Bnei Menashe woman whose mother is in her seventies, said her mother would receive an old-age pension there—something she believes would never happen in Manipur or India.

She explained that upon arrival in Israel, they would undergo language training and various skill-development programmes for employment. In addition, they would receive acclimatisation and religious training. During this period, they would also receive an allowance and could even begin part-time work. After roughly three months of training, they would be free to seek employment and work anywhere in the country.

“Once we earn, we are on our own, and we can even buy a house anywhere we want,” said Sarah. “There are no restrictions.”

The prospect of employment and a better quality of life is among the strongest pull factors attracting them to Israel.

Nonetheless, Sarah insisted that it was not solely about economics. “It is not just about a job, but also about following Judaism in its full spirit,” she said. “Here in Manipur we get distracted, and there are lots of disturbances. If one is to truly follow the Torah or Judaism, it is best to go and live in Israel.”

This sentiment was echoed by many other Bnei Menashe members. In Manipur, and Northeast India more broadly, they feel it is challenging to practise Judaism to their full satisfaction. Following Judaism requires strict adherence to rules, rituals, and restrictions, which many members believe is difficult because of distractions, ridicule, and the challenges of being a very small minority community.

When asked why they chose to follow Judaism, many members said they had grown up following the teachings of the Bible. They believe that if one truly believes in and follows the Bible, then returning to Judaism or identifying as Bnei Menashe is a return to their roots. They hold a strong belief in the idea that they are descendants of the lost tribe of Menashe.

Asked whether they might feel homesick after migrating to Israel—longing for the place where they were born and raised, among their own tribes and people—they said those who had already migrated did not experience “homesickness.”

For the Bnei Menashe, the belief in the promised land is something they have grown up with since childhood. Chingpi, whose children are also preparing to leave for Israel, said, “Our hymns and songs are about Zion or Bethlehem or Jerusalem, so there is no way we feel homesick or nostalgic about Manipur.”

“We grew up with the belief in the holy land, our promised land. We grew up with faith in the written Bible, so there is no room for nostalgia or homesickness,” she added.

In Northeast India and Manipur, the Bnei Menashe community does not have a Rabbi. Instead, they are led by a Hazzan—the prayer leader in a synagogue responsible for chanting prayers, leading worship, and often officiating lifecycle events while guiding the congregation’s spiritual experience through trained musical and liturgical skills.

Whatever may be said about the migration of the Bnei Menashe communities from Manipur and Mizoram, one fact remains clear: for them, it is a longing for a better life strengthened by faith and belief. The pathway to that aspiration, they believe, has fortunately been facilitated by governments and authorities.

So far, none of the immigrants interviewed or referred to by community members reported being “dumped” somewhere, used as forced labour, or facing discrimination or harassment after reaching Israel.

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