Mizo Jews likely to leave for Israel soon

Aizawl, July 7(PTI) Mizo Jews who call themselves Bnei
Menashe and claim descendants of Mannasseh, one of the 10
tribes exiled from Israel by the Assyrians 2,700 years ago,
may soon leave for their 'Promised Land'.

Jeremiah Hnamte, a local leader of the Jewish community
here told PTI that a group of a hundred or at least 50
'converts' may soon leave for Israel, which is considered as
their 'Promised Land'.

The United Messianic Youth Council (U.M.Y.C.), India, the
apex body of the Messianic in country headquartered in Imphal
(Manipur) also recently announced that in April 2008 the
Supreme Court of Israel has allowed 'Indian Jews' to secure
Israeli citizenship.

The Israeli Supreme Court on April 16 this year
overturned its previous verdict and ruled that Mizo Jews could
get the Israeli citizenship according to the 'Law of Return'
as per a petition filed by the U.S.-based United Messianic
Jews Congregation.

The Israeli law defines a Jew as 'a person who was born
of a Jewish mother or has converted to Judaism'.

Hnamte said many Mizos 'belonging to the lost tribe of
Israel' have formally converted themselves to Judaism after
being 'baptised' at 'Mikvahs' or spiritual baths by rabbis
visiting Mizoram and Manipur during the past few years.

"More than 1,200 people from Mizoram migrated to the Holy
Land during the past years, with over 500 going in 2006,"
Hnamte said, adding that about the same number of Jews also
went 'home' from Manipur.

Michael Freund, leader of an Israel-based organisation,
responsible for the finding Mizo Jews, was quoted as saying,
"These people were the lost tribe who left the Holy Land 2,700
years ago and are finally coming home."

Freund claimed that the Israel Interior and Absorption
ministry earlier approved the 'home coming' of the Mizo Jews
and Rabbi Hanoch Avizidik and two representatives of the
organisation arrived here in October, 2006 after which around
500 Mizo Jews left for Israel.

A Mikvah or spiritual bath of the Jews was erected at
Hnamte's bamboo industry premises at Zuangtui locality near
here, where they were formally converted to Judaism in 2006 by
the rabbis.

Earlier, Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar, head of the
Rabbinical court in Israel, had announced the recognition of
the Bnei Menashe - the ethnic community in Mizoram and Manipur
- as Israeli descendants.

After the chief rabbi's announcement on March 30, 2006
the Amishav Hebrew Centre - the institute for learning the
Hebrew language and Jewish religion and culture located at
Republic Veng Street here - was rechristened the Shavei Israel
Hebrew Centre. PTI