Tel Aviv, Israel — April 26, 2026
Israel Receives First Group of Indian-Origin Jews in Major Relocation Drive
Around 250 members of the Bnei Menashe community from India arrived in Israel this week, marking a significant step in a government-backed initiative aimed at facilitating their return to what they consider their ancestral homeland.
The group, primarily from the northeastern Indian states of Manipur and Mizoram, landed in Tel Aviv as part of a multi-year immigration program supported by the Israeli government.
‘Operation Wings of Dawn’ Targets Thousands More
The relocation effort, officially titled “Operation Wings of Dawn,” was launched last year with the goal of bringing thousands of eligible community members to Israel over the next five years.
According to the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, an additional 1,200 individuals are expected to arrive خلال 2026, with two more flights already scheduled in the coming weeks.
The Israeli government has allocated approximately 90 million shekels (around $30 million) to support the resettlement, covering housing, integration programs, and social assistance for new arrivals.
Who Are the Bnei Menashe?
The Bnei Menashe community traces its claimed ancestry to the biblical Tribe of Manasseh, one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel exiled more than 2,700 years ago.
Over centuries, the group is believed to have migrated across regions including Persia, Afghanistan, Tibet, and China before settling in India’s northeast.
Despite long periods of geographic and cultural isolation, the community preserved several Jewish traditions, including circumcision and dietary customs, though many members later adopted Christianity during their time in India.
Recognition and Legal Pathway to Citizenship
The group’s Jewish identity was formally recognized in 2005 by Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, paving the way for their eligibility to immigrate to Israel under the country’s Law of Return framework.
However, under Israeli law, many members are required to undergo a formal conversion process to obtain full citizenship status due to historical religious transitions.
Thousands Already Relocated, More Await
Over the past three decades, approximately 4,000 members of the Bnei Menashe community have already settled in Israel. An estimated 6,000 more are still awaiting relocation under the ongoing program.
The initiative reflects Israel’s broader founding principle of providing a homeland for Jewish communities worldwide, while also raising complex questions around identity, migration, and integration.
