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 excelled in Art, Math and science. Very analytical and very driven when I take interest in something. But also a hard core romantic. My artwork has won regional and national awards and I use it now only when I'm dating.. probably a waste; but, getting back into it a little. I love to write the kind of letters people wish they could get. Favorite one I've done was on 19x25 parchment in old English script. I wove red ribbon through white lace and tied seven lengths around the rolled up scroll, sealed it with wax and delivered with red and white roses. I've done comic strip letters, letters with commercials in them... You name it. I like being creative and a little different. and no one throws my letters away - unfortunately rofl.
You've just described yourself. Projection can be helped...get some.
Your reading comprehension isn't any better than your spelling,sentence structure,manners,and knowledge.
See both of you love cats. That says something about cat lovers. Here is my summary of cat lovers. They are humorless and self centered...also justify ALL their actions. Kinda like what the two of you have been doing all night here.
Well, there's always hope. I've managed to get along with Cronos and nopardons on a thread for the first time in human history I think. So If we can get along, you two should be able to ;)
LOL..........LOL.........LOL
yeah tell me about it....wife won't let me turn of the lights to go to sleep. She could go into the living room and read...but nooooo.
WOW! you sound pretty awesome!
You are a hard core romantic, you don't find that in many people now a days....
ROFL. Picked on from both sides of the puter huh. Have a beer ;)
"Managed" to get along with nopardons?
Heck, she is one of my dearest pals!!!!
I get along with ALMOST everyone. :)
It's midnite.
NITE ALL!!!
what does the date have to do with OKC bombing and CI?
Either you drink too much wine,when you post,or you're almost illiterate...perhaps both.
How old are YOU? :-)
How bout this:
Drop Dead Looser!
Now THAT is just plain silly! LOL
You're having about as much "fun" with me,as a someone being hung,drawn,and quartered. ;^)
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