New Bnei Menashe synagogue dedicated in India
The Magen David community in Thinghejang
A new synagogue for the Bnei Menashe was dedicated at the end of February in the village of Thinghejang, about 50 kilometers from the main Shavei Israel center in Churachandpur. Both are in the state of Manipur, where the majority of Bnei Menashe live.
Thinghejang has a very small Bnei Menashe community – only 15 families with around 85 members. This is not surprising given how isolated the village is: there is no road for vehicles and access is via an hour and a half hike across the hills of the Leimatak mountain range.
Those who make the trek, though, are rewarded by beautiful views all along the way – which you can see in this photo gallery of the synagogue dedication, which was attended by Yochanan Phaltual, Shavei Israel’s emissary to the Bnei Menashe, and leaders from four nearby communities – Matiyang, Monglienphai, Zohar and Beith Shalom B.Vengnuom. Yochanan affixed a new mezuzah to the doorpost of the synagogue, which has been named “Magen David” (“David’s Shield”). It is a modest building, Yochanan reports, “humbly constructed with a tin roof, bamboo and woods.”
The dedication included classes and presents from the visiting communities. The chairman of Magen David received a new tallit (prayer shawl) from Shavei Israel. The ceremony closed with everyone praying the mincha (afternoon) service together.
The following week, Yochanan and several Shavei Israel Bnei Menashe “Fellows” in India were on the road again, this time to visit the Etz Menashe community in the village of Canaanphai, also in the outskirts of Churachandpur. Canaanphai is notable for its serene mikveh (ritual bath), which is used by Bnei Menashe from Canaanphai as well as three nearby villages. The mikveh was given the name “Mey Marom” following a visit in early 2012 by Shavei Israel’s Rabbi Hanoch Avitzedek, who consecrated it.
Yochanan led a one-day seminar in Canaanphai during the visit on “Strengthening Community.” He reports that the topic is particularly important now, as the Bnei Menashe aliyah from India has resumed. ”Our visit was vital,” he says, in order to “help the community stay on course – being connected and strengthening with one another in the post-aliyah environment.”
Unlike Thinghejang, Canaanphai is accessible by vehicle, but it wasn’t an easy ride. “The road is in terrible condition,” Yochanan says. The group traveled by jeep and “with the dry heat of the spring season, the dust enveloped us, totally changing our appearances. I’m sorry that it wasn’t Purim!”
You can see photos of the almost unrecognizable group here.
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