Voices of the Bnei Menashe: Speech Texts
Avner
To all of you who have come from far away, beyond the seas and from other countries today to inquire about and meet us, the Bnei Menashe in Mizoram, we greet you warmly.
We wish you a very pleasant time during your stay in Mizoram, and we hope that you will encounter many unique traditions and lifestyles that are rarely seen or known in other parts of the world.
As we all know, just recently about 300 members of the Bnei Menashe from Mizoram were brought to the Holy Land to return home, and we are very glad about this great moment.
The people who live in Mizoram are called “Mizo,” and we believe they are descendants of Menashe. However, because we are one of the Lost Tribes of Israel, many people still cannot believe or simply refuse to believe this identity. There are also many who do believe that we are children of Menashe, but because they are still reluctant to leave Mizoram, the land of their birth, they have not yet joined us.
As time goes on and their mindset changes, we believe that more will want to return to the Holy Land.
Currently, in our specific community, the Khovevei Tzion Community, we have 308 members, and it is estimated that about 100 more are in other communities. Because people are constantly joining us as awareness grows about being part of a Lost Tribe, our numbers continue to change. Therefore, we earnestly request that the Government of Israel not stop this great project of return to the Holy Land, and not neglect those among us who may yet awaken in the future.
When you look at our faces, you may even doubt that we are from one of the branches of the Israelite nation. But this is what I want you to understand. When a people have been lost for thousands of years, living in a different land and climate, eating different food, doing different work, and constantly seeing the faces of those around them, their appearance and physique naturally change.
Our historians have traced that our forefathers came from China, but because they could not trace further back, and because our appearance is somewhat similar, they concluded that we might be Mongolian.
In our Mizo legends, the place from which we are said to have emerged is called Chhinlung. It is described as a large stone wall with a single opening that could be closed with a cover. But could people have simply emerged from a cave? If we look deeper, there is another explanation of Chhinlung, which I believe.
Some historians say that Chhinlung refers to the present-day Great Wall of China. Our forefathers were captured as slaves by the famous Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang, who built the Great Wall. Many were forced to work on its construction. Those who tried to escape secretly made a hidden opening, through which they fled.
One branch of our people, the Ralte clan, was too noisy, and the opening was sealed, leaving many trapped inside. It is believed that some of our people may have remained there.
When they escaped, our forefathers carried the tallit gadol. Because it is a prayer garment, Jews carry it wherever they go. From ancient times, our baby-carrying cloth has had similar patterns and fringes to the tallit gadol. From this, it seems unlikely that we simply originated in these remote lands.
While enslaved in China, Emperor Qin Shi Huang wanted all his subjects to follow his religion, so he confiscated other religious books. In our legends, it is said that our Torah was taken at that time. Our forefathers called the Torah Savun lehkha, a leather scroll. In one story, it is said that “our leather scroll was carried off by a dog.” But who is this “dog”? It was the name our ancestors secretly used for Qin Shi Huang.
In Myanmar, there is still a branch of our people known as the Karen. Their culture and appearance are similar to ours, and they trace their history even further back. They also have a tradition of a lost scroll. They claim to be the Xiang people of China, an ancient group described as cattle-herding people who migrated from Assyria. A Western missionary once said, “These people are not Chinese; they are a Jewish nation.”
In earlier times, Pu Bengkhuaia, chief of Sailam village and a warrior, captured a British woman named Mary Winchester. When British soldiers came to rescue her, they expected to fight a primitive tribe. But when our warriors responded with guns and flintlocks, they were astonished and said, “These people are not an ordinary tribe.”
Also, one branch of our people, the Hmar, has a song called Tuipuisen Kan Hla, meaning “Song of Crossing the Red Sea.” This suggests that we too must have crossed the Red Sea long ago.
Thank you.
Moshe
Shalom to all of you. I am Moshe Hnamte, Chairman of the Khovevei Tzion Community.
We are very grateful to everyone who has come today, and on behalf of Mizoram Judaism, we thank you for your support and your valuable time.
I would like to speak about what our ancestors taught us over the years. I do not know everything, but I will try my best to share a few things that I remember from what we have heard from our forefathers.
This is how guests were received.
Before entering a house, the guest would say, “Can you receive me?”
The host would ask, “Are you a good guest or a bad guest?”
The guest would reply, “I am a good guest. We are the children of our father Menashe.”
Then they would be welcomed with all their hearts.
When building a house, people helped one another. Even for the fireplace, three stones were carefully placed. Our ancestors had strong traditions. If something unusual such as Thinglubul, Zawnglu ro, or Leiruangtuam was found in farmland, it was seen as a sign of the death of the head of the family.
They would bring it to the priest, who would offer a sacrifice and say, “We belong to Manasseh. This evil thing is cursing our land.” Then the king and elders would grant them new land.
Festivals were celebrated on awmni khamin, meaning rest days or holidays. These included:
Chapchar Kut
Mim Kut
Pawl Kut
People played drums, called khuang, and other instruments, dancing and singing joyfully. During this time, they would say, “We are Israelites, and we will go to Israel.” They also collected money for the journey to Israel.
Our ancestors made special cloths for carrying children, made of white fabric with fringes, very similar to the tzitzit we see today.
From all of this, I believe that I am a descendant of Menashe. I have held this faith faithfully for 40 years.
I served in the Mizoram Government Police Department since 2012, and after 39 years of service, I have now retired. I currently live with eight members of my family.
Finally, we are very pleased with the cooperation between The Jewish Agency and the Government of Israel. Thanks to our dear guests and all these efforts, we are filled with hope.
We are ready to help in any way we can. We believe and hope that Hashem will lead us to the Holy Land of Israel.
Thank you all.
Tzvi Khaute
My name is Tzvi Khaute. I am a father of five, three boys, all of whom served in the IDF, and two girls.
I am blessed to live in a fortunate generation. I immigrated 27 years ago from Manipur, India, fulfilling both
my dream and the dreams of my ancestors.
The Bnei Menashe were lost in the eyes of mainstream Jews for over 2,700 years, but never lost in the eyes of God. We always knew where we belonged and where we needed to go, but we could not return on our own. Not a day passed without remembering Zion and Jerusalem. We longed deeply to return home.
Our ancestors preserved many customs and traditions, passing them down orally. We observed three major festivals each year, during which women prepared traditional wine in advance. We had our own system of counting months and weeks, observed Shabbat, practiced brit milah on the eighth day, and observed seven days of mourning. During natural disasters such as earthquakes, our ancestors would go outside and pray, “We, the children of Menashe, are still alive. God of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, please help us.” Many of our ancient songs expressed love for Zion and Jerusalem, including one about the crossing of the Red Sea.
Our ancestors sent many letters to the Israeli government, pleading to be brought home, but received no reply. Some pioneers even attempted to walk to Israel, but without success. Like a dove that knows its owner but needs help to return, the Bnei Menashe also needed help. Today, thanks to our brothers in Judah and programs like “Wings of Eagles” by The Jewish Agency for Israel, we are returning home.
I was raised in a very traditional Bnei Menashe family. My grandparents refused to allow Christian missionaries to establish a church in our village. They held firmly to our traditions until their last breath. As a child, I observed their practice of animal sacrifices, both individual and communal. These were sometimes performed using a white rooster or cattle, and no bone was allowed to be broken. Although I was not allowed to participate, I secretly watched and learned. I remember how we children would hold hands in a chain and sing, “Lut thial thial lut thial Zion a,” which means “Hasten quickly to enter Zion.”
For the past 25 years, I have been actively assisting fellow Bnei Menashe in immigrating to Israel. Every time I left Mizoram or Manipur, I would cry, not knowing when they would return. But today, I cry with joy, knowing that The Jewish Agency is bringing them home very soon.
Today, I feel comforted and grateful for the leadership of Jewish Agency Chairman Doron Almog and his wonderful team, Eran Berkovitz, Shai Felber, Almog Moshekovich, and all the staff.
God bless you all.
Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Maaravi, Former Chief Rabbi of Uruguay
Speech: The Mission to the Bnei Menashe
Mizoram, May 2026
Good afternoon, and thank you all for being here. It is a profound privilege to share a few reflections on this meaningful and sacred mission.
The Concept of Zera Israel
In Halachic terms, "Zera Israel" refers to individuals who possess a historical and ancestral connection to the Jewish people, even if they do not yet meet the formal Halachic definition of Jewish status.
This concept carries a weight of deep responsibility. On one hand, Halacha demands absolute clarity and integrity. On the other, it recognizes that identity is not merely a legal status; it is a tapestry of history, memory, and spirit. When we speak of Zera Israel, we speak of people standing at a unique intersection: between past connection and future commitment, between memory and belonging. Our role is to approach this reality with both unwavering fidelity to Halacha and profound sensitivity to the human story.
The Encounter: Beyond the Interview
The interviews we conduct are not interrogations; they are, first and foremost, encounters.
We seek to understand the personal journey of each individual: their knowledge, their faith, their daily practices, and their sincerity. We speak about Shabbat, about faith, about family, and about their yearning for the Jewish people. But beyond the technical questions, we are listening for something deeper: authenticity and coherence. We seek to establish a bond of trust, ensuring that the person standing before us is ready to embrace the destiny and the responsibilities of Am Israel.
A Personal and Moral Calling
I chose to return here because this is far more than a professional task; it is a personal and moral calling. Meeting the Bnei Menashe is a deeply moving experience. Here, one encounters a community that has preserved its connection and longing for Zion across generations.
Their Aliyah is not merely a demographic event; it is a spiritual milestone. It serves as a powerful reminder that Jewish history is not a closed book, and that the story of our return continues to unfold in ways we might never expect. To be here, even amidst challenging conditions, is to witness a living bridge between our ancient past and our shared future.
A Note of Gratitude
On a personal note, my wife and I had the merit of making Aliyah to our land nearly seventeen years ago. After many years dedicated to Jewish education and the Rabbinate, standing here today fills me with immense gratitude to the Almighty. It is a gift to be able to contribute, even in a small way, to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
I see the fruit of this journey in my own family: in the eyes of my children and the courageous, sincere eyes of my grandchildren, all of whom, thank God, live in Israel. To give back to our beloved country is the greatest privilege of my life.
I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Jewish Agency, and especially to my exceptional colleagues, Moshe Pines and Almog Moskovich, who have taught me enduring lessons in integrity and dedication.
I am also deeply thankful to the Conversion Authority for their trust. They opened the door for me to one of the most meaningful missions I have ever embraced: the opportunity to teach converts to love the Torah, to love God, and above all, to love this Land.
In closing, this entire process requires three things: responsibility, humility, and unity. It is where Halacha, history, and human dignity meet. If we approach this work with both seriousness and compassion, we ensure that what we are building is not only correct according to the law, but deeply meaningful for generations to come.
It reminds us all that the Jewish people is not just a legal structure; it is a living story, and that story is still being written.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.