THE SECOND COMMUNITARIAN LEADERSHIP SEMINAR FOR BNEI MENASHE, 2008

ORGANISED AND CONDUCTED BY SHAVEI ISRAEL ORGANIZATION

FROM 23RD ADAR RISHON(28/02/08) TO 16TH ADAR SHENI(23/03/08) AT DHULIKHEL,NEPAL

According to Jewish traditional teaching, when the month of Adar begins, the happiness of the Jews is much greater. The month of Adar is a symbol of joy for the Jews. And certainly this year the joy of Adar is explicitly display in the tiny Himalayan country of Nepal.

Under the aegis of Shavei Israel Organization the “Second Jewish Leadership Seminar for Bnei Menashe” is held at Mirabel Resort Hotel in Dhulikhel. The first Seminary has been organized also at the same place last year in 2007.

Dhulikhel is about 30 kilometers away from Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. The vast stretch of the resort is dotted with rural beauty and charm. Dhulikhel is surrounded by the low lying beautiful hills near the Himalayan mountains range. The serenity and peace is the most impressive and imposing for the occasion.

The Bnei Menashe were one of the Ten lost tribes of Israel and claim descent from the tribe of Menashe. They generally settle in the border states of India-Myanmar and Bangladesh and inhabited predominantly in the northeastern Indian states of Manipur and Mizoram.

Forty competent and potential community leaders from the various places in Manipur and 11 members from Mizoram joined the leadership seminary held from the February 28 to March 23, 2008. The Shavei Israel organized the program as part of its ongoing efforts to reach out the Bnei Menashe in India and assist them for the return to the Jewish people by imparting education and religious training. So that they can built for themselves a stronger and healthier Jewish life in their respective community. It is also to further help them in preparing in their efforts to undergo an orthodox conversion.

The seminary is manned by well qualified educators, rabbis and other specialized person in the field of Jewish culture and tradition. Rabbi Hanoch Avizedek, the Shavei Israel’s Director of Bnei Menashe and Absorption department oversees the seminar. Some of the educators were members of the Bnei Menashe who had immigrated and settle in Israel many years ago. The delegated staffs were Tzvi Khaute, the Coordinator of Shavei Israel for Bnei Menashe, Rav Yehuda Gin, Gurion Sela and Yitzkhak Colney.

Classes were held in Torah, tefilla, Jewish thought, history, Israeli society, culture and more. Another special program added is special Ivrith course. A professional teacher from the education department of Israel Mrs Yehudit Ayal and her husband Samuel Ayal teaches Hebrew and other extra curricular activities.

The multi-faceted activities and the intensive class makes the seminar vibrant with resonant spiritual glow all round-the-clock for a weeks in one of the finest and elegant resort hotel in Nepal.

The management and liaison department was taken care by the Shavei Israel Administrator of Manipur and Mizoram – Mr Yochanan Phaltual and Mr Asriel Hmar respectively. Another attractive part of the program was the voluntary work taken by 3 diligent Bnei Menashe young man in the culinary department. They assist in the kitchen works the professional chef of the hotel. In the meantime they attended the seminary class – giving them two edge advantage of learning in religion and culinary.

Singing and dancing the trademark of the Bnei Menashe envelops and enthralls everyone with the Sabbath spirit. The Bnei Menashe shows that though they could not speak their lost language (Hebrew), they still show the one common language – dancing and singing. I believed the visitors from Jerusalem and all the trainees in the seminary had never experience a beautiful Sabbath of this kind.

Michael Freund, Chairman of Shavei Israel and Rabbi Birnbaum, Rabbi of Shavei Israel exhorts the trainees and assured them that they will left no stone unturned unless they bring back all the Bnei Menashe to Eretz Israel. They distributed Tefillin and seminary T-shirts to all the participants. Like last year Talith, Hebrew-English dictionary, Zmiron and all other necessities were provided.

The visitors from Jerusalem left the seminary with feeling in their heart to fulfill the desire of the Bnei Menashe. With hope to see soon some other day they departed with everyone raising their hands and in their hearts the undying faith “see you in Jerusalem”.

Purim was celebrated in the most grandiose and replenish style. No doubt the best Purim festival has been experience by the Bnei Menashe trainees.

The seminar came to its conclusion successfully on March 23. All the participants after hard work and sincere study were inducted to the ranks of the Shavei Israel’s Fellows. With enhance personal leadership quality they will become the “role model” for the Bnei Menashe and serve in every aspect for the growth Judaism amongst their fellow brethren.

Like the seminar objective of strengthening the community, the new leaders will always discharge their duty in imparting religion, education, social and cultural activities in the spirit of Judaism as is done by the Shavei Fellows of the first seminar.

The seminar will passed down the torch of learning to those living in the remote villages and towns and to all the Bnei Menashe community across the northeastern India. The Shavei Israel Fellows will act as a beacon light and will refurbishes, bolsters and strengthen the Bnei Menashe community.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Shavei Israel Organization. Inspired by the theme of the seminar “ Be strong and of a good courage, for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land…” (Joshua 1:6), the fellows return home imbued with the strength and spirit of the Almighty H-shem.