Children from the Bnei Menashe community celebrate Rosh Hashanah in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur. (Submitted photo / October 5, 2011)
By Shani McManus Florida Jewish Journal
While most people are aware that members of the Jewish Diaspora can be found in almost every corner of the globe, some may be surprised to learn of the Bnei Menashe community in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.
The Bnei Menashe are said to be descendants of one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel who were exiled by the Assyrian empire more than 27 centuries ago.
Several months ago, an Israeli government committee approved in principle a request made by the Shavei Israel organization to bring on aliyah the 7,200 Bnei Menashe still in India.
"I believe the start of the new Jewish year will herald the beginning of the return of this lost tribe to our people," said Michael Freund, Shavei Israel chairman.
The Bnei Menashe, who look more Chinese than Indian, claim that after their forefathers were exiled and enslaved by the Assyrians they somehow escaped from slavery and arrived in China, according to "Jews in India." In time, they moved to the Chinese-Burmese border and later to neighboring east India. Most residents of Mizoram and Manipur are Christians. Among the Manipur Jews there are some who believe that all the Manipur and Mizoram residents are originally from the Menashe tribe. The Manipur Jews believe that 19th Century Christian missionaries forced them to abolish their Jewish identity and adopt Christianity.
Since 1951 there has been a movement among the Bnei Menashe to return to Judaism and immigrate to Israel. Some of them contacted with Israeli rabbis and started learning Judaism. Some of the Israeli rabbis accept their Judaism and others don't see them as original Jews. Many of the immigrating Manipuri Jews to Israel have converted to Judaism through strict Jewish laws.
Professor Nathan Katz of Florida International University in Miami, whose area of specialization is Jews of India and comparative religions, is very familiar with the Bnei Menashe. With six, published books on India to his credit, there isn't much Katz doesn't know about India and Indian Jews.
"I was interested in India; then I became interested in Jews of India," Katz said. "They came to India with the destruction of the Second Temple.
Katz, who has traveled throughout the Indian subcontinent, said India is a good place for Jews.
"Indians love Jews," he said. "There's never been anti-Semitism in India. It's a place that's very hospitable to Jews."
Rabbi Barry Silver of Congregation L'Dor Va-Dor in Lake Worth, echoed those sentiments.
"The Jews that I've met from India seem to have incorporated some of the best qualities of Judaism, as well as the admirable qualities of Hinduism," he said.
"The Jews of India seem to have a more enhanced use of meditation than we do," he noted. "I believe they have much to offer us and we can benefit by adopting some of their eastern traditions."
To underscore his point, Silver said L'Dor Va-Dor will be hosting an interfaith service and dialogue on Yom Kippur this Saturday at 2 p.m. at Santa Luces High School in Lantana, followed by a free, 4 p.m. Yizkor.
"Members of the Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and B'hai faith, will be joining us to discuss what each religion has to atone for," Silver said.