Uncertainity still looms large of jews in Northeast

Aizawl, Jul 18 (UNI) After Israeli government's recent decision to postpone religious conversions, the future of over 7000 Bnei Menashe, a community that has Jewish roots residing across Northeast India, is in dark.

More than 400 Bnei Menashe people in Mizoram and Manipur want to go to their 'promised land' after having completed their conversion under the auspices of Rabbi Shlomo Amar, chief of Shephardic Rabbinate Council of Israel.

Bneish Menashe officials here said Shavei Israel, a Jewish group, which had helped in the conversion process of Bnei Menashe, would file a petition in the court to allow Bnei Menashe to migrate (Aliya) immediately.

Earlier, few Jewish organisations used to help Bnei Menashe in the NE region to return to Judaism after which they would be eligible for Aliya, a system for visa.

About 800 such members, claiming to be amongst the 10 Biblical lost tribes, from Mizoram and Manipur managed to migrate to Israel in early ninties with the help of a private organisations.

Apart from Bnei Manashe more than 10 Mizo-Israel communities in the region were also claiming to have lost their tribes.

UNI SNR PP/PC KLC1405