Shavei Israel launches Bnei Menashe Translation Project with first book in Mizo
Cover of Hilchot Teshuva translated into Mizo
For the first time ever, Maimonides’ seminal text Hilchot Teshuva (the Laws of Repentance) has been translated into Mizo, one of the two main languages spoken by the Bnei Menashe. The translation of the 100-page, ten chapter book by the medieval Jewish philosopher and scholar was done by Bnei Menashe Rabbi Gurion Sela, who is a native Mizo speaker.
The new text is just the start of an ambitious new project to translate dozens of key Jewish texts for the Bnei Menashe.
“We are now working to prepare an entire syllabus on Judaism for the Bnei Menashe,” explains Rabbi Hanoch Avitzedek, the director of Shavei Israel’s Department of Bnei Menashe Aliyah and Absorption. “Similar to the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch [the compendium of Jewish Law written by Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried in 1864 and that is used to this day by Jews worldwide to study basic halachot – Jewish law], we want to create a collection of knowledge that every Bnei Menashe family will have in its home. It will cover not just halacha but general background on Jewish life, faith, philosophical issues, and the daily and annual life cycle.”
Rabbi Avitzedek, Tzvi Khaute (Shavei Israel’s coordinator for the Bnei Menashe), and representatives from the Bnei Menashe community itself have so far determined which works will be translated. They are now identifying Bnei Menashe scholars who can transform the original Hebrew texts into Mizo as well as Kuki, the other main language spoken by the Bnei Menashe.
“There will be more material in Kuki than Mizo initially, at least,” Rabbi Avitzedek explains, “because there are more Bnei Menashe who speak that language.” Rabbi Yehuda Gin, who we have profiled before, is a Kuki-speaker, for example.
The next book to be translated covers practical halacha and will be in Kuki. It will be published by the end of 2014. A translation into Mizo is planned for the spring of 2015. The Mizo translation of Maimonides’ Hilchot Teshuva was made available immediately prior to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), when the issue of repentance is particularly relevant. 500 copies were sent to the Indian state of Mizoram, where they will also be used at the next meeting of Shavei Israel “Fellows,” which will take place at the end of November.
Inside of Hilchot Teshuva
The Bnei Menashe Translation Project is now kicking into high gear, and we need your help. In order to translate Judaism’s core texts into Kuki and Mizo, we must pay our translators, then design, print and distribute the books – both to those Bnei Menashe already in Israel and the nearly 7,000 waiting in India for their chance to join the Jewish people in Israel.
Your contribution – however large or small – can make these Jewish treasures available to the Bnei Menashe. Please visit our Support page to make your pledge today.
If you would like to dedicate an entire book, please contact us directly and we can make that happen! Write to Rachel in the Shavei Israel office.