Who are Bnei Menashe? Unpacking the journey of Israel's lost tribe

The Bnei Menashe, also known as ‘Sons of Menashe,’ are indigenous people within the Kuki-Chin-Mizo ethnic family. These individuals currently reside in the hills of Northeast India, specifically in the states of Manipur and Mizoram. This population is a peculiar intersection of ancient biblical prophecy and modern geopolitics. The population claims to be the descendants of one of the ten lost tribes of Israel, which were exiled by the Assyrian Empire in 722 BC. However, the question of their identity remains unresolved. 

For decades, the Bnei Menashe community has faced a constant dilemma: whether they are rooted in their geographical origins, linked to the Indian states of Manipur and Mizoram, or in their spiritual connection to Zion. Although these people are claimed to be one of the lost tribes of Israel, what challenges will India or the Indian government face in sending them back to Israel? The Bnei Menashe are not merely religious pilgrims but are essential actors in Israel's strategic and demographic policies. 

Among the Jewish communities in India, the Bnei Menashe differ from other established Jewish communities, such as the Bene Israel of Maharashtra or the Cochin Jews. The former belong to the Tibeto-Burman ethnic group, which practised animism before the 20th century. Their identification with Judaism began in the 1950s, after their leader reported a dream in which he claimed to have been shown that their ancestry was linked to Israel by correlating their pre-Christian oral traditions with biblical narratives.

Their claim was contested and debated until 2005, when Israel’s then-Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar recognised this population as ‘Zera Yisrael’ (Seed of Israel). Although their identity and Jewish roots were acknowledged, they are mandated to undergo formal Orthodox conversion – called Giurin Hebrew – upon arriving in Israel to be fully recognised as Jews under the Law of Return.

The existence of the Bnei Menashe in India is not new; however, it came to light after the Israeli government’s recent approval to bring the remaining 5,800 Bnei Menashe to Israel by the end of 2030. This includes the upcoming wave of 1,200 people in 2026 to Israel. Sure, but why in 2025 and not 2005? Numerous arguments suggest that a convergence of religious idealism and pragmatic considerations drives this sudden move.

One, Israel faced and still faces a demographic challenge in maintaining the Jewish majority between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. While the right- and ultra-right-wing political factions view them as ‘quality immigrants’ who devote themselves and integrate religiously, unlike some secular immigrants from the former Soviet Union who are questioning the religious authority of the state. Two, the Israeli government’s explicit move to settle the Bnei Menashe in border areas, like the Galilee, to balance the Arab-Israeli population.

In India, these groups face numerous difficulties, especially with the ethnic conflict in the state of Manipur. The suffering has persisted since 2023. During the instability, many synagogues were burned, and hundreds were displaced, not because of their religious identity, but rather an ethnic one. Economically, these people are largely agrarian, fall within the lower-middle class, and often sell their ‘ancestral’ land to fund their emigration to Israel (Aliyah).

However, in Israel, these problems remain unresolved. While escaping the physical violence in India, this population faces broader issues in Israel. This includes racism, where due to their visible distinct appearance, they are labelled as ‘Chinese’; economic hardships, due to language barrier; and geographical marginalisation, with the settlements located far from main towns. 

For India, migration is not solely a matter of foreign policy; it also has repercussions for internal security. The state of Manipur is under duress due to tensions among ethnic groups, with the Bnei Menashe predominantly belonging to the Kuki tribe. However, surprisingly, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed this move, framing it as a testament to ‘people-to-people ties.’

This helps clarify the importance and relevance of the Bnei Menashe, also known as the lost tribes of Israel, to both Israel and India. For Israel, the Bnei Menashe represent a demographic buffer, and for India, they are part of a complex ethnic mosaic of the Northeast. 

The author is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.