Bnei Menashe: Personal Stories

Growing up in Mizoram as a member of Bnei Menashe in the mid-nineties certainly came with difficulties. You would typically be teased by other kids for being Jewish and mocked for “not believing in Jesus.” That was certainly the case for Esther Kolnoy before she...

David Thangkhoneh and Esther Doungel were among the Bnei Menashe refugees from Sajal Beit Shalom, in northeast India, where their house - and the whole village - was burned down by the Meitei mob on May, 2023. They were among those who were rescued by...

A personal account by Yosef Vaiphei from Beth El Langol, in Manipur, India. Yosef's younger brother Samuel Vaiphei, who was married just a month ago, works for Shavei Israel and was in Churachandpur occupied with the work regarding the aliyah process for the next Bnei...

By Rav Reuven Tradburks Yaakov’s challenges never seem to end. He returns to the land of Israel. He is fearful of a confrontation with Esav. He prepares by dividing his entourage. A man fights him through the night, changing his name to Israel from Yaakov at...

Translation of excerpts of a moving interview with Pnina Tamano Shata, Israel’s Minister of Aliya and Absorption, and Yaron Vilensky on the Chamesh baErev program, Gala"TZ, as she shares in the grief of the family of the late Yoel Lhanghel z”l of the Bnei Menashe...

Some people find inspiration from their soul. Some people have inborn talent. When you have both together, you can expect beautiful things to emerge...

As part of our Ma'ani Center programming to preserve, promote and disseminate the unique heritage and culture of the various communities we work with, we brought a presentation about the Bnei Menashe to the Golan Heights....

Sometimes teachers really connect with a particular subject matter, or specific population. And sometimes a teacher connects with both, in a remarkable way, that makes all the difference for their students. Meet Dalia Netzer, a wonderful, dedicated - and beloved - Hebrew teacher, who has...

Aviel Manlun, is a 29 year-old DJ in Jerusalem. A member of the Bnei Menashe community, Aviel made aliyah with his family, from Manipur, India, in 1994, when he was just two years old.    Aviel grew up with his family, his parents and older brother, in...