Rosh Chodesh with the Bnei Menashe in India
Memorial calendars lit during Rosh Chodesh event in Manipur
Each Rosh Chodesh (the first day of the new month on the Jewish calendar), Shavei Israel “Fellows” serving in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur lead special programs for the Bnei Menashe. The programs rotate among the 37 synagogues in different towns and villages across Manipur where there are substantial Bnei Menashe communities.
This month (Cheshvan), the celebration took place in the town of Kangpokpi, which has a large Bnei Menashe synagogue with over 550 members. 12 Shavei Israel Fellows serve in Kangpokpi, out of a total of 200 Fellows throughout Manipur.
Thirty women from across Manipur, along with local community members, participated in the Rosh Chodesh program in Kangpokpi. Four Shavei Fellow youths also organized a Rosh Chodesh program in the small Jewish village of Zohar. The synagogue in Zohar has about 300 Bnei Menashe members.
The main Rosh Chodesh program was held from Friday afternoon through Shabbat; the community leaders of Kangpokpi prepared a lunch prior to the start of the Sabbath as well as a seuda shlishit (literally, the “third meal,” traditionally eaten at the closing of Shabbat) for the visitors.
The highlight of all of Shavei Israel’s Rosh Chodesh celebrations is the Seder Amenin. The Hebrew expression refers to an uplifting activity where all the women participants recite in unison five “Amen’s” (hence the name) following the blessings for foods traditionally eaten on Rosh Chodesh.
The program also included performances by the “Nightingale” and “Spices” informal singing groups that get together especially for Rosh Chodesh, as well as classes conducted by Yochanan Phaltual and other Shavei Fellows. Yochanan is Shavei Israel’s emissary to the states of Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and the country of Myanmar.
We are looking forward to next month’s celebrations. In the meantime, here are some pictures from the Cheshvan event. And some more pictures from the previous month‘s celebration for Elul.