Promised Land awaits 7500 Mizo Jews

AIZAWL: At least 7,500 Mizo Jews from Mizoram and Manipur will migrate to Israel, which they refer to as their Promised Land, this year.

"Preparations for a mass migration to the Promised Land are on. The lost tribes from the northeast will go to Israel in the later half this year after their peers from South America migrate to that country," said Jeremiah Hnamte, one of the leaders of the Aizawl-based Bnei Menashe, a community that claims to be descendants of one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel who were sent into exile by the Assyrian Empire over 2700 years ago.

While most of the Bnei Menashes, who would migrate to Israel this time, are from Manipur, a litlle less than 3,000 will be from Mizoram. Hnamte, whos owns the premises where the 'Mikveh' or a pond for Jewish Spiritual bath is situated in the Zuangtui Industrial Estate near Aizawl, said the Bnei Menashes would only be formally converted to Judaism after they reach Israel.

Earlier, Rabbis from Israel visited the Mikveh where they baptized a number of believers. Zaithanchhungi, a Mizo researcher, said the Bnei Menashes had once migrated to the two northeastern states after travelling through China and were still following the Jewish culture and traditions in many ways.

In 2005, the Shavei Israel, Israel's chief Rabbinate and the highest religious authority of the lost tribes, officially recognized the Bnei Menashes as descendants of Israel. Following this, a huge number of Mizo Jews from Mizoram and Manipur migrated to Israel. It claims to have brought about 1,700 Bnei Menashes to Israel so far.

Shalem Gin, a Mizo Jew, has already become the first person from his community to occupy the position of an officer in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Shalem, 20, who immigrated to Israel from Mizoram in 1995, received the rank of second lieutenant. He joined the IDF in 2009 and enlisted in the Engineering Corps where he finished near the top of his class in his commanders course.