New IDF ‘olim’ from India to reunite with their families
The ‘Shavei Yisrael’ Foundation, together with the Interior Ministry and other bodies, to turn dream of bringing entire community to Israel into a reality.
Sons of the Bnei-Menashe community, who immigrated to Israel from India without their families several years ago and joined the IDF, have requested that their parents be brought to Israel.
Chairman of the ‘Shavei Yisrael’ (Those who return to Israel) Foundation, Michael Freund, who has been active in recent years in bringing Jews to Israel from various countries, has joined the effort to reunite the sons of Bnei-Menashe with their parents.
For the past 13 years, the foundation (which was once called “Amishav”) helped more than 800 members of the northeastern Indian community to make “Aliyah” (immigrate to Israel). The new ‘olim’ integrated successfully into Israeli society, as all its youth join the IDF.
In addition, ‘Shavei Yisrael’ has assisted Jews from Spain, Portugal and Latin America to make Israel their new home.
Freund, who spoke with NRG Maariv, described the absorption process as very emotional. “We began helping them even before they boarded a plane to Israel, whether by funding airfare or making necessary arrangements. When they arrived, we made sure they received an absorption assistance package and took care of all their needs in Israel, starting from clothing through education and of course, housing”.
“The Bnei-Menashe community is undergoing a conversion to Judaism that is approved by the chief rabbinate and with the blessing of the Interior Ministry. The young generation insists on joining the IDF and serves the full three-year mandatory service (for men). Some of them are part of combat units, which regularly operate on the West Bank and Gaza Strip”, he added.
Several months ago, Interior Minister Avraham Poraz authorized bringing the first-degree family members of soldiers who came alone to Israel. The ministry and other officials who are involved in the project have expressed a great deal of satisfaction from the activity undertaken by “Shavei Yisrael”, a non-profit outfit that operates solely out of pure Zionism.
Freund added that he was satisfied by Israel’s policy change regarding the Bnei-Menashe community: “Until now, the community members arrived in Israel without any financial assistance from the government. However, that has changed and the Interior Ministry and other bodies are taking part in the project”.
After all families are reunited in Israel, the foundation plans on establishing a new community, such as the town erected near Be’er Sheba. Requests have already been submitted to the Jewish Agency and the Israel Land Authority. Most of the Indian olim live in the territories, and according to one Israeli official, “we have a clear interest to relocate them in the Negev or northern Israel”.