Posted on 08/19/2004 7:11:00 PM PDT by missyme
A team of senior Israeli rabbis is due to rule soon on whether thousands of Indians who say they are members of one of the lost tribes of Israel can settle there.
Only 5,000 of the Benei Menashes have converted to Judaism Shlomo Amar recently led a delegation of rabbis to the north-eastern Indian states of Manipur and Mizoram where members of the Benei Menashe tribe live and practise Judaism.
At the Beith-el Synagogue in the Manipur capital, Imphal, nine men wearing knitted skull caps read silently from the Old Testament.
Four others stand on a wooden platform in the centre of the room as a young man reads from the holy book under the supervision of an elderly priest.
These people claim to be one of the lost tribes of Israel.
Recent discovery
Tongkhohao Aviel Hangshing is the leader of the Benei Menashes in Imphal.
We found that the stories, the customs and practices of the Israeli people were very similar to ours
Tongkhohao Aviel Hangshing "We are Benei Menashe, because we belong to the Menashe tribe," he says.
"Menashe is the son of Joseph, who was one of the 12 sons of Jacob. So we are the lost tribe of Israel."
Mr Hangshing says for thousands of years they did not know they were lost.
"We found out only 27 years ago," he says.
"When the Bible was translated into our language, in 1970s, we studied it.
"And we found that the stories, the customs and practices of the Israeli people were very similar to ours. So we thought that we must be one of the lost tribes."
Saturdays are observed by Jews the world over as the Sabbath, the day of rest, and the members of the Benei Menashe community meet for morning prayers at the synagogue in Imphal.
A lamb-skin scroll of the Torah, is unrolled and then rolled up again as each reader finishes his part.
Hope
There are more than 300,000 Benei Menashes in Manipur but most of them follow Christianity.
Only about 5,000 have converted to Judaism, most of them during the 1970s.
Mr Hangshing says although India has treated them quite well, they do not consider it their home.
Lucy Vaiphei (right) is hoping to join her family in Israel The recent visit by a delegation of rabbis from Israel has given new hope to the members of this community.
Caleb, a 24-year-old college student, wants to go to Israel because he says it is the land of his forefathers.
Amram is studying to be a lawyer. He says Israel is the promised land, for him and the others too.
"In Israel it will be easier for us to practise our religion."
In a chamber partitioned from the main prayer hall, about a dozen women join in the Sabbath prayers.
Lucy Vaiphei is the caretaker of the synagogue.
Her parents and six siblings have emigrated to Israel in the last few years and she is now looking forward to making the move herself.
Michael Freund, director of Amishav - an organisation that helps Jews move to Israel - says he firmly believes that Menashe is one of the lost tribes of Israel.
"We have brought over 800 of them to Israel," he says, "and the remaining people also want to emigrate".
Mr Freund says that last year the new Israeli interior minister, Avraham Poraz, suddenly declared his opposition to bringing the Benei Menashes into Israel.
"But I'm confident that if the chief rabbi issues a ruling saying that the Benei Menashes are indeed descendents of the Jewish people and should be allowed back home, then he will have no choice but to let them in."
So while the rabbis in Israel take a decision on whether or not to grant the right to emigrate to Israel to the Benei Menashes, this community here is waiting with bated breath - and praying.
I don't have to prove Jack S**t to you now do I?
Now missy...that's no way to make friends and influence people...
The other side is the genetic evidence, discussed thoroughly on this thread, that Ashkenazi Jews are a nearly identical population to Sephardi Jews. Such genetic closeness is incompatible with a theory that a large % of Ashkenazim come from Khazars.
Christian Identity has a cornerstone that basically Germanic peoples are the true Israelites and that modern Jews are Edomites and sworn foes in a God ordained fight to the finish.
I was saying unequivocally that I do not believe that to be true. I used the vernacular that I do not "cotton" to that.
I am a provincial, you'll have to give me some sway.
breathe deep and relax.
let's have a thread with racial and religious and ethnic overtones without a homicide for once on this forum.
I do NOT "follow you" at all!
Add LIAR to your many other "virtues",because YOU have popped onto threads which I have long been on,and CRUSHED in every "debate".
Given the choice,I would NEVER willingly go to any thread you appear on;however,you do,inadvertently,post some of the most hysterically funny replies to grace FR. LOL
Are you starting to take this thread seriously...go have a beer.
Yes these people who want to be the Spelling Police on FR were proably the ones that were the biggest nerds in school so this is how they are trying to be noticed..
I really think it's kind of funny to tell you the truth I hated my computer for years because I hate typing but I am learning to type better, you should of seen me a year ago
YIKES!
I really am a nice person, but I cannot stand this nopardons chick never have since I encountered her on FR....
Did I ever send you any of the kiddo's wedding pictures? Her maid of honor is 1/2 Indian and 1/2 Egyptian and absolutely gorgeous! Her father is a Brahman,but since she's almost 31,`I think he'd accept ANY respectable guy who wanted to marry her,now. :-)
Ah hum...might I suggest a mud-wresting match to settle this issue...bikinis will be provided...wearing them is optional...
Wrong! I would never be on a thread where you and your little nerdy girlfriends hang out...
That may well be. I've seen the translation of the words back and forth between different languages that tie the scythians and keltoi to one of the Israeli tribal names directly - as well as the term Samauria. These all generally are legends that derive from Assyria in one way or another and, as I noted earlier, Assyria kept the best of the Israelite warriors after they conquered the norther Kingdom. What groups were the best of their warriors... The coincidentals of the languages add up. It would be nice to see more facts.
Pleasant dreams and I hope your traction goes well.
Hey, I got a Cat, careful now lol
I happen to think that Indian women are the most beautiful women on earth...but then I might be biased...
Set it up I will be there in my lime green suit.
Would love to give nopardons a attitude adjustment.....
I wasn't mean, was trying to be kind about it. Be nice lol
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