Israel's government recently approved a proposal to bring all the remaining 5,800 Jews from India's north-eastern region, commonly referred to as Bnei Menashe, over the next five years.
About Bnei Menashe:
Bnei Menashe is an ethnic community that hails from the northeastern states of Mizoram and Manipur.
They claim to be the descendants of the biblical tribe of Manasseh, considered one of the "lost tribes" of Israel.
They are Christians converted into Jews and observe traditional Jewish practices and celebrate holidays such as Sukkot.
Historians believe this community may have arrived in India within the last 300–500 years.
Their ancestors were exiled long before the Roman dispersion, but they continued to practice Judaism across the generations, even if not in a contemporary Orthodox way.
Once they came into contact with Israel and global Jewry in the 1980s, they embraced modern Jewish learning and practice.
Nearly half of the 'Bnei Menashe' population migrated to Israel over a period of time and became its citizens.
According to the recent Israeli Government plan, approximately 1,200 community members are expected to immigrate to Israel by the end of 2026.
A second stage, slated for completion by 2030, will bring an additional people, effectively completing the arrival of the entire community.
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