On April 23, over 250 Indians claiming descent from the biblical tribe of Bnei Menashe landed at Ben Gurion Airport as part of a government-backed operation to relocate them to Israel.
According to a report by the Times of Israel, “At around 10 p.m. at Ben Gurion Airport, the newcomers, bleary-eyed from a long flight, passed under an arch of blue-and-white balloons and shuffled with their luggage down a red carpet unfurled at the entrance to Terminal 1. Well-wishers, many from their own community, cheered them while waving small Israeli flags as a rendition of ‘Oseh Shalom’ played through loudspeakers.”
The 250 arrivals, mostly from Mizoram and Manipur in Northeast India, marked the first major Bnei Menashe immigration wave since the Israeli government decided in November 2025 to fund the migration of thousands more community members.
The Bnei Menashe community, which claims descent from the biblical tribe of Manasseh, has gradually migrated to Israel since the 1990s. The Israeli government approved a plan — dubbed Operation Wings of Dawn — to relocate the remaining 6,000 members of the community to Israel by 2030.
The Shavei Israel organisation, which works to trace descendants of the Lost Tribes and has facilitated the community’s immigration process, estimates that around 4,000 Bnei Menashe have immigrated to Israel since the 1990s, while roughly 7,000 remain in India.
The migration has also brought rare international visibility to Mizos, with some community members appearing in an Al Jazeera newscast.
However, the community is not always viewed positively back home. A recent article by Ninglun Hanghal for EastMojo highlighted how the “Lost Tribes” narrative has become increasingly sensitive in Manipur following the ongoing ethnic conflict. While immigration to Israel by the Bnei Menashe has taken place for decades, the issue has received renewed attention because of both the Middle East conflict and the continuing violence in Manipur.
The report noted that many Bnei Menashe are now reluctant to openly speak about their identity. One major reason is that some Meiteis, who are predominantly Hindu, have accused Kukis and Zomis of being illegal immigrants in Manipur.
As a result, Aliyah — migration to Israel — has become an extremely sensitive issue. One youth interviewed in the article remarked, “The Meiteis are calling us illegal immigrants. The ongoing crisis has made it a sensitive issue and has further complicated things.”
In Mizoram, where the situation is comparatively more peaceful, the Bnei Menashe community does not face the same level of political sensitivity as in Manipur. However, members of the community say they continue to encounter stigma and prejudice because of their faith.
An earlier 2024 report by EastMojo highlighted concerns regarding discriminatory policies affecting minority religious groups in Mizoram. The Bnei Menashe community, followers of Judaism in Mizoram, remains a small minority with an estimated population of around 700 people, though the exact figure remains unclear.
Social Media as a Space for Identity and Visibility
To challenge stereotypes and spread awareness, many Bnei Menashe members have increasingly turned to social media.
One such creator, Israel Mizo, has amassed more than 30,000 subscribers on YouTube, with some videos surpassing 100,000 views. Her content focuses on life in Israel and interviews with Mizos who have migrated there.
Some of her most viewed videos include tours of Jerusalem and vlogs documenting the arrival of Bnei Menashe migrants from Mizoram and Manipur at the airport in April.
Another channel, Beyond the Lens, describes itself as a platform intended to “share clearer information about the descendants of Manasia/Menashe who are now living in Israel, including their stories and different ways of life.”
In a recent video uploaded in July 2025, the channel interviewed several Mizo-Israelis living in Nof HaGalil, where they discussed their Jewish identity, family ties, childhood memories, and experiences balancing both Mizo and Israeli identities after migration.
For many creators, social media has become more than a platform for lifestyle content. It has also evolved into a space for negotiating identity, preserving memory, responding to criticism, and documenting a community that often feels misunderstood both in India and abroad.
Loz Hnamte and the Pushback Against Misinformation
Among the most prominent Bnei Menashe-linked creators today is Loz Hnamte. A motovlogger known for motorcycle travel and riding content, he has built a following of over 97,000 subscribers on YouTube through hundreds of videos documenting bike rides and adventures.
Last April, Loz was among the 250 Bnei Menashe members who arrived in Israel. Since then, he has frequently used Instagram to document life there while also responding to what he believes are misconceptions surrounding the Bnei Menashe community.
Some of his posts have drawn mocking or critical comments online. One commenter wrote:
“Live happily there in Israel, and become truly Israeli. Do not worry about our land, Mizoram. As for us, we will continue living joyfully in this precious homeland — the inheritance our forefathers built and protected through hardship and sacrifice. Even without you, we are still happy!”
Another Instagram user commented:
“Even though they were born and raised in Christian families, guided by church teachings and the word of God, they abandoned Christianity. I personally find it strange how they can simply choose to follow the Jewish people and faith. To me, it feels like if a random Israeli suddenly came and said, ‘I am of Mizo descent, I once lived in Mizoram, and now I want to become Christian.’ It sounds that unbelievable and absurd to me.”
In response, Loz later shared a reel criticising misinformation and religious hostility online. He said there was “a lot of fake news,” including bizarre claims that the community “eats babies,” and stressed that his platform should not become a space for attacking other people’s faiths. He added that people should not be overly concerned with another person’s religious choices.
Speaking to EastMojo in an interview, Loz explained that his family’s connection to Judaism stretches back generations. He recalled that while he attended Presbyterian beginner classes during childhood, his grandparents later felt spiritually unfulfilled and gradually became drawn toward Judaism and Israel.
“When the Christian revival reached Mizoram, my grandparents were among those who embraced Christianity. However, over time they felt spiritually unfulfilled and became deeply drawn towards Israel and the roots of the Jewish faith. They later came to know that Judaism already existed in Manipur, and from there they gradually began following the faith,” he said.
He added that one of the biggest challenges faced by the community in Mizoram is the dominance of Christianity, particularly Presbyterianism.
“There is often an assumption that all Mizos should be Presbyterian or at least Christian. But as human beings and as citizens of India, we all have the freedom to follow any religion we choose. Whether in India or in Mizoram, everyone has the right to practice their faith freely,” he said.
Faith, Belonging and the Debate Around Religious Identity
Loz also spoke about the theological tensions surrounding Judaism in a predominantly Christian society.
“From a Christian perspective, there are often attitudes that people who are Jewish, Buddhist or Muslim will not enter heaven because they are not Christians. I want to address this mindset. In Judaism, we worship the same God, and even Jesus himself was Jewish. We follow many of the teachings and practices that Jesus followed. So why should people who practice Judaism automatically be viewed as unworthy of heaven?”
He said that despite theological differences, he opposes religious hatred and division.
“Ultimately, everyone’s goal is heaven. That is something I want people to understand,” he remarked.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Loz said discrimination based on religion was something many community members experienced from a young age.
“Since childhood, we have faced bullying, discrimination and ridicule because of our faith. Even some of our close friends and people around us looked down on those who were not Presbyterian. In Mizoram, because the church is so influential, religious discrimination and judgment are very common,” he said.
He emphasised that his intention is not to attack Christianity or elevate Judaism above other religions, but rather to encourage tolerance and mutual respect.
“I want to gradually create awareness through social media. I do not want to attack anyone’s religion or claim that one faith is better than another. I want to approach this in a neutral and respectful way. However, I feel these conversations are necessary because the mindset in Mizoram is often unhealthy when it comes to religious differences,” he said.
Loz also said he hopes his content can help counter misinformation about Israel and everyday life there.
“There is so much fake news, especially because Israel is often associated with conflict and tensions involving Islamic regimes. I want to show the real situation and everyday reality. Even here in our community, we live peacefully alongside Arabs. I want to show that peaceful coexistence is possible and real,” he added.
As more Bnei Menashe migrants settle in Israel, creators such as Loz Hnamte, Israel Mizo and others are increasingly shaping how the community is perceived online. Through vlogs, interviews, travel videos and personal reflections, they are not only documenting migration journeys but also challenging stereotypes surrounding faith, belonging and identity.
For a community long caught between competing narratives — indigenous identity, migration politics, religion and ethnicity — social media has become an important arena where younger Bnei Menashe members are attempting to tell their own stories in their own words.
Also Read: Explained: How a YouTube interview triggered the Kuki–Tangkhul war of narratives
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