In the hilly landscapes of Manipur and Mizoram in Northeast India, a community of around 5,000 people believes they are the descendants of the biblical lost tribe of Manasseh, known as the Bnei Menashe.
As they grapple with ethnic conflicts in their home region, a growing number are expressing their desire to relocate to Israel to reunite with what they consider their ancestral land, according to a report published in Al Jazeera.
For Joseph Haokip, a 20-year-old undergraduate student from Manipur, the dream of joining the Israeli army to fight against Hamas is fuelled by a desire to connect with his lost tribe. Having recently returned from a makeshift camp in Mizoram where his family sought refuge during an ethnic conflict, Haokip is determined to make the journey to Israel.
Rafael Khiangte, a 37-year-old taxi driver from Aizawl, Mizoram, shares this sentiment. His mother had relocated to Israel in 1993, and now Khiangte, along with his wife and toddler, yearns to move to Israel to reunite with his family and roots.
The belief in their connection to the lost tribes of Israel traces back to claims made in 1951 when tribal leader Mela Chala dreamt that their ancient homeland was Israel. Many in this region, primarily from the Chin, Kuki, and Mizo ethnic groups, have embraced Judaism and its customs since then.
PC Biaksiama, a Christian researcher based in Aizawl, was quoted by Al Jazeera saying that the Bnei Menashe community contends that they were dispersed to China during ancient times and eventually ended up in Northeast India.
Israel's Law of Return in 1950 opened the doors for Jews and their descendants, providing the Bnei Menashe an opportunity to relocate to Israel and reclaim their perceived lost heritage.
Professor Shalva Weil of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem introduced Israeli Rabbi Eliyahu Avichail to the Bnei Menashe tribe in 1980. Initially sceptical due to the lack of documentary evidence, Weil observed a steady increase in their numbers in Israel since the 1980s.
In 2005, the chief rabbinate of Israel officially accepted them as Jews, facilitating the immigration of around 3,500 Bnei Menashe members in the past three decades.
To make the journey to Israel, Bnei Menashe individuals undergo a process called aliyah, involving scrutiny of documents, conversion to Orthodox Judaism, and interviews. While all Jews are eligible for aliyah, the decision to absorb them rests with the Israeli government.
In recent years, the process has faced delays, leading to debates in the Israeli parliament. Oded Forer, chair of the committee, questioned the government on the delays and emphasized the need to assist the remaining community members in making aliyah.
Leah Renthlei, a 52-year-old who resigned from her teaching job in Aizawl a decade ago to follow religious practices, eagerly awaits her turn to move to Israel. Despite the challenges, enthusiasm among the Bnei Menashe remains high.
However, not everyone supports this exodus. PC Biaksiama believes the community is "misguided" and should take pride in their birthplace, discouraging them from leaving for economic benefits. He suggests that settling in Mizoram and practising their religion there is a viable option.
Regardless, members like Thansima Thawmte, the chairman of the Bnei Menashe Council in Mizoram, express a deep longing to reunite with the land of their ancestors. The community is hopeful that Israel will soon allow them to enter and fulfil their dream of connecting with their lost roots.