Israel has begun relocating members of the Bnei Menashe community from India’s Northeast under “Operation Wings of Dawn”, reviving global attention on a group that claims descent from one of the biblical “lost tribes” of Israel.
The first batch of around 250 people was airlifted via Delhi on Thursday, part of a larger plan announced by Benjamin Netanyahu to bring nearly 4,600 members of the community to Israel over the coming years. Over the past two decades, about 5,000 Bnei Menashe have already migrated.
Who are the Bnei Menashe?
The community traces its ancestry to the tribe of Manasseh, one of the 12 tribes of ancient Israel said to have been exiled in 722 BC. According to their oral history, they migrated over centuries through regions including Persia, Afghanistan, Tibet and China before settling in present-day Manipur and Mizoram.
In India, they are largely identified within the Kuki tribal fold, though they follow Judaism rather than Christianity, which is dominant among many tribal groups in the region.
Why do they want to move?
Religion is a key driver. Community members say practising Judaism fully in remote hill regions is difficult due to limited access to religious infrastructure and institutions. Many also seek closer cultural integration with mainstream Jewish society.
Economic factors also play a role. In Manipur, livelihoods are largely agrarian or informal, while those who have migrated to Israel often find better-paying jobs in sectors such as construction and transport.
Ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur since 2023 have further disrupted lives and livelihoods, strengthening the push to relocate.
Also read: Israel to resettle 5,800 Jews from Manipur by 2030
Why is Israel facilitating this?
Israel’s move is not just religious or humanitarian, it also has strategic dimensions. The country has faced labour shortages due to prolonged conflicts, including the war with Hamas, which disrupted migrant worker inflows.
Relocating the Bnei Menashe helps fill workforce gaps while also contributing to demographic and settlement goals, particularly in regions such as northern Israel and Galilee.
Some members of the community have also served in the Israeli military, underscoring their integration into the state.
Despite the promise of better opportunities, integration has not always been smooth. Past migrants have reported cultural adjustment issues, economic hardships and instances of discrimination.
Even so, for many in the community, the move represents a return to what they consider their ancestral homeland — a journey shaped as much by faith as by circumstance.
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