Welcoming them, dozens of supporters sang a traditional Jewish song as they passed under a blue and white balloon arch, mirroring the colors of the Israeli flag.
These newcomers are the first “Bnei Menashe” (“Sons of Manasseh”) to reach Israel since the government announced in November its plan to assist the immigration of approximately 6,000 community members from the northeastern Indian states of Manipur and Mizoram.
The community believes they trace their lineage back to Manasseh, a figure from one of the biblical “lost tribes” of Israel, who were exiled in 720 BC by Assyrian invaders.
Dagan Zolat, a 20-year resident of Israel, was at the airport to reunite with a man he described as his brother.
“We were neighbors and among the few Jews in our village,” he shared with AFP, noting that it had been nine years since he last saw his friend.
“When my son was young (in India), my friend would often carry him in his arms,” he added.
The Shavei Israel organization, which aims to connect descendants of the lost tribes, reported that around 4,000 Bnei Menashe have immigrated to Israel since the 1990s, with about 7,000 still residing in India.
Their oral tradition narrates a centuries-long journey through Persia, Afghanistan, Tibet, and China, during which they maintained certain Jewish practices, including circumcision.
In India, they were converted to Christianity by missionaries in the 19th century.
The 250 Bnei Menashe arriving Thursday are set to settle in northern Israel, according to the Ministry of Integration.
To gain Israeli citizenship, they must convert to Judaism.
Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer, who greeted the newcomers at the airport, described their arrival as a “historic moment.”
“This marks the beginning of an initiative to enable the entire community to immigrate, with 1,200 expected each year,” he stated.
Manipur has experienced periodic violence for nearly three years between the predominantly Hindu Meitei majority and the primarily Christian Kuki community, resulting in over 250 fatalities.
Since April 2025, more than 18,000 Jews have immigrated to Israel, a decrease of 18 percent compared to the prior year.
