Ten Lost Tribes Challenge - India: Meeting the lost tribe of Menashe

The Ten Lost Tribes Challenge is an initiative developed jointly by Shai Bar Ilan Geographical Tours and Eretz Ahavati, each a leader in different aspects of geographical tourism. The two companies have joined together to bring travelers from all over the world with a new type of in-depth tourism.

The expedition departed Sunday for the Indian subcontinent with the aim of meeting with the dispersed descendants of Menashe and Ephraim, the sons of Joseph. The 12-day journey will travel to the border area between Burma, India and Bangladesh in northeast India, to  the states of Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, and then continue to the northern plains of  the state of Uttar Pradesh. During the first part of the expedition we will meet with  members of the Shinlung ethnic minority, who live in the mountainous regions of Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, and who claim descent from the tribes of Menashe and Ephraim. Within breathtaking, exotic and remote landscapes there live many communities of the Kuki, Mizo and Naga tribes. All the groups are distinct from one another.

Although the majority is Christian, a minority has begun the process of returning to their Jewish origins during the last century. Both groups believe in their historical connections to the tribes of Menashe and Ephraim. The story of their wanderings from Assyria through central Asia; and then to China from where they were banished southward to Burma until their arrival in this area, is prominently interwoven in their collective narratives as it is in the geographical research of the area and its inhabitants.

We will visit numerous villages where we will meet small, warm Jewish communities as well as the Christian populations, and we will learn the stories of the culture and faith of the region. We will spend a Shabbat in the largest Bnei Menashe center in Manipur where we'll experience the local Shabbat customs as well as the yearning for personal contact with other Jews and with the State of Israel. We will also meet with various local researchers who will enlighten us with their unique perspectives regarding the historical identity and cultural heritage of  the various groups.

This trip, and the blog that documents it, is not going to attempt to answer the question of whether these Indian people are actually the descendants of the tribe of Menashe and if their immigration to Israel should be encouraged or not. They believe they are the lost tribe of Menashe. There are enough researchers and interested parties slugging this one out. A short list includes: the Indian government, Christian and Hindu groups in India, the Israeli Interior Ministry, the Chief Rabbinate, Amishav and Shavei Israel.

This trip is about the meeting between religious Israelis interested in the Ten Tribes story and the Kuki people of North East India, who have embraced Judaism and believe they are the descendants of the Menashe tribe. In essence, it's about giving both groups the feeling that they are not alone. This blog, and my entire participation on this expedition, will focus on that theme. I do not wish to get embroiled in the intricacies and politics of the story. I'd much rather focus on my part in this story - the discovery of the lost Jew in me, if you will.

The idea of reuniting with descendants of my lost Hebrew brothers, members of my shared ancient ancestry, fascinates me too. While there is an element of - how shall I call it - messianic tourism, involved in this trip, and I know we are walking into a minefield of hidden, and not-so-hidden, religious and political agendas, I will try to focus on the human story here: the feeling by both groups [the one visiting and the one being visited] of a blessed, longed-for reunion.

Amir Mizroch is the News Editor at The Jerusalem Post, a writer and an award-winning blogger. For all of Amir's blogs and articles, visit his personal blog Forecast Highs.

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Government approves aliya of 150 Bnei Menashe - Nov. 12, 2008