Following their aliyah to Israel in October and formal conversion to Judaism, six Bnei Menashe couples who were already married in India get a chance to step under the chuppah again in a “second” wedding ceremony according to Jewish Law in our absorption center in...
This week saw two in-person events at our Ma'ani Center after many months of mostly Zoom programs due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The first was a tour of our new exhibit on the Kaifeng Jewish community. The tour, which was held in English, included a slide...
Yehuda Singson, a member of the Bnei Menashe community, made aliyah from Manipur, India, in 2007 with the help of Shavei Israel. Initially settling in Pardes Chana, the then 30 year old moved to Maalot where he studied in the yeshiva and eventually married his wife,...
When 235 Bnei Menashe arrived earlier this month, there were actually 261 who were expected. A number of them were unable to make the flight due to Covid-19, and a few had passport issues that caused delays. Thankfully, those who had Covid all tested negative, and...
The holidays are an especially challenging time for Jews of choice in Israel who are working hard on their conversion and are often unable to work during this intense time. To make it easier and create a truly warm feeling, the staff at Shavei Israel in...
To mark the Knesset’s commemoration of Yom HaAliya, Michael Freund along with twenty Bnei Menashe men and women, were invited to the Knesset by the Minister of Absorption, Penina Tamano-Shata. The Bnei Menashe who attended were all part of the group that made aliya from...
In this challenging time that has literally affected the entire world, it is always heartwarming to see when people rise to the occasion to make things a bit easier for their fellow man. Recently, Covid-19 hit India particularly hard. While it was raging throughout the...
Like every year, we receive many images from our communities around the world for every holiday. We're pleased to share a visual experience of the celebrations of Sukkot in our communities from India to Israel! One of the fun things about working with Jewish communities around...
Like any community with many generations of roots in a particular region, the Bnei Menashe have many cultural traditions that evolved during their many years in northeast India. This includes special garments and jewelry, foods, songs & music, and dance. Enjoy this brief clip of young Bnei...
Like many Jews around the world, the Bnei Menashe community of northeastern India are gathering to celebrate Sukkot this week. In their festival prayers, the Bnei Menashe offered a special plea, to fulfill their age-old dream to make Aliyah to Israel during the coming year. “Even...
