Bnei Menashe visit Western Wall for first time

Some 100 new immigrants from Manipur, India, who claim descent from one of Lost Tribes of Israel, arrive at holy site in Jerusalem with tears in their eyes. 'It's like entering my dream,' one of them says excitedly.

Gabi Newman

If you've ever wanted to see a person fulfilling his dream, you should have visited the Western Wall recently as 100 members of the Bnei Menashe arrived at the holy site for the very first time in their lives, two months after making aliyah from Manipur, India.
The Bnei Menashe gathered in the entrance area of the Kotel with tears in their eyes, singing songs which expressed their deep desire for Zion.

צילום ועריכה: גבי ניומן

Video and editng: Gabi Newman

"I have been dreaming to come to this Kotel, to pray and kiss the wall, for many years," Gideon Haokip said excitedly. "Now it's really like a dream, it's really amazing. It's like I enter into my dream."

From Manipur to Kfar Hassidim

A lost tribe makes Aliyah / Neta-el Bendel & Gabi Newman VIDEO: They believe they are descendants of a lost tribe of Israel that was exiled by the Assyrians nearly 3,000 years ago; now the Bnei Menashe, who maintained their traditions and never ceased to yearn for Israel, are coming, despite Rabbinate’s demand they undergo conversion. Full story

Yosef Tungnung added, "Ever since our childhood we see this Western Wall on the picture, but today we get a chance to pray here."
The olim walked with great excitement towards the Kotel and stood for a long time next to it.
Michael Freund, founder and director of Shavei Israel, which is responsible for the Bnei Menashe aliyah and their absorption, asked the new immigrants to pray for the aliyah of the 7,000 Bnei Menashe remaining in India, who are very anxious to come to Israel.

Singing and dancing at the Western Wall (Photo: Gabi Newman)

"When you stand there and you turn to God, plead with him to keep the aliyah of Bnei Menashe going and to bring home all of the lost tribe of Bnei Menashe," he told them. "Your return to this very holy place, 2,700 years after your ancestors were exiled from this land, is nothing less than a miracle. It is a miracle from God.

A Jewish tradition of 27 centuries

The Bnei Menashe 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.

In recent years, Shavei Israel has brought some 1,700 Bnei Menashe back home to Zion. Another 7,200 still remain in India, waiting for the day when they too will be able to return to Israel and the Jewish people.

"The Bnei Menashe story teaches us about the power of the Jewish sparkle which exists in all of us," says Freund. "Their ancestors were exiled from this land 2,700 years ago, and they wandered in the Diaspora throughout the generations, but never forgot where they came from and the place they dream to return to."