First ever Bnei Menashe women’s symposium held in Manipur
Shavei Israel has just concluded a special new symposium exclusively for Bnei Menashe women in India. More than 100 women studied in the 10-day program on the theme of “women as the builder of the Jewish home and community.”
The seminar, which ended on August 28 and was held at the Shavei Israel Hebrew Center in Churachandpur, Manipur, consisted of a full day of activities, starting at 10:00 AM and finishing only in the late afternoon (Fridays were half days and Shabbat, of course, was a day off). Study topics included Hebrew, Jewish festivals and fasts, the concept of repentance, kashrut, prayer, Shabbat and family purity.
The classes were taught by six Shavei “Fellows” – local Bnei Menashe who have received training from Shavei Israel to be serve as instructors and spiritual guides in their home communities. Special thanks to our 2011 “Fellows” – Shlomo Haokip, David Gangte, Ovadiah Lhanghal, Oved Touthang, Amos Touthang and Talya Lhungdim.
Two “extra-curricular” activities were also held during the symposium – one taught the women to make and embroider challah cloths; the other was a group discussion on Jewish issues called “Café Dilemma.”
Shavei Israel’s women’s study program is more important than ever now, as the Bnei Menashe prepare for their imminent aliyah. Strengthening the community’s knowledge of Hebrew, Jewish practice and culture will certainly speed their immigration and absorption process when they arrive in the Holy Land, enabling them to speedily and smoothly realize their 2000-year-old dream of rejoining the Jewish people in the Land of Israel.
We have pictures from the symposium here.