Amos Sektak
My name is Amos Sektak. I am 25 years old and made Aliya to Israel in 2000 from Manipur State, India.
As a child, I went through many difficulties, many humiliations and suffered many “jokes” made by my “friends.” They always called us the “Saturday people” or the “circumcised ones,” and laughed at our religion. Even in school there were all sorts of difficulties, socially as well as requiring us to take our examinations or do our turn of duty on the Sabbath day.
My life’s dream was to come on Aliya to Israel, to live in a Jewish state and feel like I belonged and not different. With God’s help as well as with Shavei Israel’s, I came on Aliya to Israel. My dream became a reality.
I spent one and a half years in a yeshiva in Jerusalem and felt that I was simply at home. Nevertheless, mixed in with my happiness was the sadness that my family remained in India.
Another morning came, the sun rose, and I came to that hoped-for day: My parents returned (arrived) in Israel in 2003.
As far as I was concerned, this was perfect. We were happy and rejoiced over our unification but mainly because it took place in Israel. However, like every good Israeli, I had to enlist in the army and again leave them for long periods, since I had joined the army’s Haredi Nahal unit.
With God’s help, I completed my army service in 2006. I then traveled to India for a family visit.
While I was in India, I met my future wife. After eight months, we became engaged in accordance with Bnei Menashe customs. We then got married in a civil court in Manipur, India.
I returned alone to Israel a short while ago, because we still had not received an entrance visa for my wife.
While I was in India, I volunteered as a counselor/assistant for the new olim in Manipur, under the auspices of Shavei Israel. Even there, the olim had the feeling that they were coming back home and it filled them with happiness and rejoicing.
Today, I am working with Bnei Menashe olim at Pardess Hannah under a special Shavei Israel project.
In finishing, I very much hope that my wife soon receives her visa and she too will be able to make Aliya to Israel so that we can build a loyal family in the Land of Milk and Honey – in Israel