He told me that the Bnei Menahse story is bunk. He thinks they are a native tribe that once had some connection to Islam (which most of "Jewish" rituals come from) and was converted to Christianity this century. According to him, the Missionaries told them wild stories about them being a lost tribe as part of a tactic to deceive them into Christinaity (i.e. you are a Jewish tribe, Jesus was a Jew -- one of you -- and is your messiah, etc.).
That being said, these are people who fervently believe in Judaism now. I have no problem having them convert and move to Israel.
Good to hear from you...
SO do you believe that there are people through-out the world that can claim they are part of one of the 12 lost tribes of Israel?