[Pontiac]

but their aliya was subsequently halted in 2007 over the issue of their "Jewishness", even though the Israeli Chief Rabbinate had earlier recognised the community as "descendants of Israel".

So did they resolve the issue with DNA testing?

[Bellflower]

but their aliya was subsequently halted in 2007 over the issue of their "Jewishness", even though the Israeli Chief Rabbinate had earlier recognized the community as "descendants of Israel".

So did they resolve the issue with DNA testing?

The thing people are generally unaware of is that Jews today are out of the ancient Kingdom of Judah. Israel became split into two Kingdoms, the southern Kingdom of Judah and northern Kingdom of Israel or otherwise know as Samaria. The tribe of Manasseh was part of the northern Kingdom of Israel not the Kingdom of Judah.

In the New Testament you might remember how Jesus' disciples were surprised that he would talk to a Samaritan. Also remember the parable of the good Samaritan. To Judah the Samaritans were basically considered to be a mixture and were looked very down upon. That is why though they are descendants of Israel there may not have been a proclivity for the Jews whose background is from the Kingdom of Judah to want to include in there number a "Samaritan". That would be my guess about what the hold up was all about, but I am not sure.

The Northern Kingdom consisted of of the tribes of Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben and Gad. Also Livites were incorporated into all the tribal areas.

The Southern Kingdom consisted only of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin with their Livites. These are the people call today "Jews". That is why though people from the tribe of Manasseh are, in the article, referred to as "descendants of Israel" but not, per say, as "Jews".

[ChicagoHebrew]

The DNA tests that have been done reflect what common sense would tell you: these people don't descend from Israel, much less Menashe. They are recent converts who began identifying as Jews after Christian missionaries started telling them they were a "lost tribe." The missionaries had noticed a few minor similarities between local customs and traditional Jewish practices, and thought that spinning a lost tribe tale would make it easier for these people to accept their "messiah." Their missionizing backfired when some people they taught decided they liked the first half of the Bible, but thought the second half didn't make a lick of sense.

My childhood rabbi, who was from Calcutta, was very familiar with this whole situation.

They are righteous converts and thus full Jews. But they aren't physically descended from ancient Israel.