Breaking news: Israeli government approves new Bnei Menashe aliyah
Government resolution approving Bnei Menashe aliyah in Hebrew
On Sunday morning, the Government of Israel unanimously passed a resolution allowing Shavei Israel to bring 899 Bnei Menashe from India to Israel (you can see the original resolution in Hebrew on the left). The government action means that Shavei Israel’s planning for the next wave of Bnei Menashe aliyah, which we have reported on for you here over the past several months, is now kicking into high gear.
In 2012 and 2013, we enabled 274 Bnei Menashe to immigrate to Israel and rejoin the Jewish people. That was no easy task, involving a myriad of details, from flights to food, and arranging housing, classes and childcare programs on a very large scale.
We are now looking at more than a 300% increase in the number of Bnei Menashe who, with Shavei Israel’s help, will immigrate to Israel in the coming 15 months. The aliyah is scheduled to begin in December – that’s just over six weeks from now!
The Bnei Menashe are descendants of the tribe of Manasseh, one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel who were exiled by the Assyrian empire more than 2,700 years ago.
Shavei Israel’s staff has already been preparing the physical groundwork in both India and Israel. Now we need to make sure that our financial house is ready.
The next group to come has a special importance: it will be entirely from the Mizoram region of India, which hasn’t seen an organized aliyah to Israel in over 7 years. Airfare from Mizoram to Israel, with transit via Delhi, is approximately $1,200 per person. An additional $1,800 per immigrant is required to assist with absorption costs once the Bnei Menashe arrive in Israel.
For all 899 new immigrants, that comes to an astonishing $2.7 million.
At this critical juncture in Bnei Menashe history, ask yourself: what can I do to make the Bnei Menashe’s 2,700-year-old dream of returning to Israel a reality? Can I play even a small part in this unfolding miracle? Am I ready to join forces with hundreds of others dedicated to ensuring a true ingathering of the exiles?
Time is running out. We need your help now. Please visit the Support Us page on our website and make your generous donation today.