Bnei Menashe parents say thank you to Shavei Israel
Bnei Menashe children celebrate their bnei mitzvot in Jerusalem
Following the bar mitzvah ceremonies of their children (see our story here), three Bnei Menashe parents wrote in to say thank you to Shavei Israei for making such a stirring and poignant experience possible. Here are their letters:
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Thank G-d my first born son Reuben Guite’s bar mitzvah was celebrated on June 27, 2011 with a group of 40 other bar and bat mitzvah children in Jerusalem, financed and organized by Shavei Israel. Special thanks to Shavei Israel for organizing the program and function.
Shavei Israel gave my son a set of tefillin, a tallit, prayer book and many other presents like uniforms and dresses. The shacharit prayers in the Beit Knesset Sefardi in a group near the kotel in Jerusalem was wonderful and great. In the afternoon they gave us hotel rooms in Mercaz Tzipori where in the swimming pool we spent a good time. There was also very good food. The evening program was very special and magnificent. All these good things that we received from Shavei Israel, we will never forget in our life. Shavei Israel not only brought us back to our Promised Land in order to fulfill our ancestors’ dream of making aliyah, but they continue to look after us and help us in the Holy Land. May G-d abundantly continue to bless Shavei Israel’s chairman and all the staff. G-d bless Am Israel.
Ilan Guite and family
Kiryat Arba, Israel
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On June 27, 2011, my first-born daughter Tzuria Ngaihte’s bat mitzvah was celebrated. Thanks to Shavei Israel in financing and organizing the great program. Special thanks to Shavei Israel Chairman Michael Freund: your deeds and efforts are holy in bringing back our lost brethren –the Bnei Menashe from India. With great sacrifice, you embarked on your journey to bring back lost tribes. You also continue to help us and support us financially and in many different ways in the Holy Land in Israel. The function was magnificent and wonderful; it was a good experience and education for my daughter.
May Hashem always bless you and all the Shavei Israel staff members in this great holy task. Thank you once again,
Yoel and Yafa Ngaihte
Ramat Mamre, Israel
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For nearly four and half years, my family is living in G-d’s promised Holy Land. Thanks to Shavei Israel in bringing us back to live here. In 1972, my grandfather and my father told us the Bnei Menashe story and how we traveled from China to Burma. They said, “in our family, whoever can live in Zion, G-d will save my soul too.”
Shavei Israel brought my family back to the Promised Land; the organization is an emissary of G-d. We have three sons. The eldest has almost finished his IDF service in the Golani Brigade. The second will join the army engineering college this September. Our family’s future is bright thanks to Shavei Israel. Our past is like a dream now, even though we have gone through so many obstacles, family problems and difficulties.
Another worry came up about our son’s bar mitzvah but our worry was solved by Shavei Israel again. On the morning of June 19, I got a phone call from Tzvi Khaute from the Shavei Israel office in Jerusalem telling me that our son’s bar mitzvah will be celebrated in a group in Jerusalem. I told my sweetheart about the good news and we shared together joyfully. Tzvi Khaute gave my son the tefillin, tallit and prayer book, as well as other dresses just before Shabbat. Our Shabbat atmosphere was very special on that day. On June 27, the day of celebration, from morning until the end of the evening function, our spirit and soul was lifted up. I would like to say again, how very glad we are to Shavei Israel and praise to G-d.
Peer Tlau and Family
Kiryat Arba, Israel