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38
May 7 • 2015
Akiva students learn about one
of Israel's lost tribes.
Zoe Korelitz
Teen2Teen Writer
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I
Jews Of India
aura Ben-David spoke to middle-
school students at Akiva Hebrew
Day School in Southfield April 24
about her experiences working with the
Bnei Menashe, a tribe of Jews from India.
Ben-David, who moved to Israel from
Florida over a decade ago, works for an
organization called Shavei Israel. Started
in 2002 by Michael Freund, a deputy
communications director under Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the organi-
zation assists descendants of Jews and lost
tribes of Israel in reclaiming their roots.
The Bnei Menashe are a group of Jews
in Northeastern India; they believe they
are descendants of Menashe, one of the
12 tribes. Around 2,700 years ago, 10 of
the 12 tribes, including Menashe, were
exiled from Israel. It is theorized the Bnei
Menashe made their way through China
to India. In this isolated area, they were
cut off from mainstream Judaism.
Still they were able to observe many
customs and holidays, such as Shabbat,
Passover and kashrut in a primitive sense.
They did not know how these laws had
been adapted and changed. In fact, they
were still giving korbanot (ritual sacrifices)
exactly as Jews did thousands of years ago.
When Christian ministries visited India
to try to convert people, they visited the
Bnei Menashe and gave them a Torah.
The lost tribe was able to recognize some
of their own customs and history, but
believed they were the only Jews left.
This all changed in 1948 with the
establishment of the State of Israel. News
spread worldwide, even to rural India, so
the Bnei Menashe learned there were still
many Jews. They tried to reach the Israeli
government for many years, but did not
receive contact until the 1990s. Israel was
able to confirm that Bnei Menashe were
descendants of Israel, but could not be
sure they were technically Jewish.
This is where Shevai Israel steps in. The
organization helps bring the Bnei Menashe
to Israel. The Right of Return — the
privilege of all Jews to live in Israel — is
only available to those confirmed to be
Jewish. Because the lost tribe's roots can-
not be traced, they do not have this right
until they officially convert to Judaism.
India will not allow them to convert there
because of politics, but Israel allows small
groups to come every few months.
Ben-David had the opportunity to visit
the community and bring 50 people to
Israel. After four plane rides, she arrived
to find an Orthodox Jewish community in
rural India. She spent time there, includ-
ing a Shabbat, to learn how the group
lives. She says she was blown away by their
beautiful community. Although they range
from farmers to highly educated people,
they all agree in their devotion Judaism
and the desire to go the Israel.
Several multi-generational families went
with Ben-David to Israel. It was an emo-
tional trip, especially after landing, when
the group erupted in passionate singing.
Shevai Israel set up the B'nei Menashe
with essentials to begin their lives and
learn Hebrew. Around five B'nei Menashe
families move into an area with Israelis
so they can both assimilate and maintain
their communities and culture. Currently,
3,000 Bnei Menashe are in Israel, but
around 7,000 are still in India waiting to
make the journey.
After three months, the official con-
version is complete and the group has
adapted to a more modern form of
Judaism. Then the group visits Jerusalem,
visiting many sites and ending at the Kotel
(Western Wall). There the group once
again bursts out into tearful song — they
are finally home.
❑
Zoe Korelitz of Huntington Woods is an eighth-
grader at Akiva Hebrew Day School. For more
Information, visit www.shavel.org.