240 Bnei Menashe Jews Begin New Life in Israel, More to Come

Some 240 immigrants from India’s Bnei Menashe community arrived in Israel on Thursday, the first group in a renewed government-backed operation to bring the remaining members of the community to the country.

The immigrants landed at Ben Gurion Airport as part of “Wings of Dawn,” a joint initiative led by the Aliyah and Integration Ministry and the Jewish Agency. They were welcomed by Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer, Jewish Agency Chairman Doron Almog, World Zionist Organization Chairman Yaakov Hagoel and Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef.

The flight was the first of three expected over the next two weeks, together bringing about 600 Bnei Menashe immigrants from northeastern India. Many of the new arrivals are young families and are expected to move initially into Jewish Agency absorption centers in Nof HaGalil, where some will reunite with relatives who came to Israel in previous years.

The operation follows a government decision approved in November to complete the aliyah of the Bnei Menashe community, whose members live mainly in the Indian states of Mizoram and Manipur.

About 4,000 members of the community have immigrated to Israel over the past two decades. Under the current plan, around 1,200 more are expected to arrive by the end of 2026, with the immigration of about 4,800 additional members expected to be completed by 2030. In total, officials say around 6,000 immigrants are expected to arrive under the renewed operation.

Sofer called the arrival “history,” saying Israel was working to bring the entire Bnei Menashe community to the country.

“There is no more fitting and moving time to welcome a plane full of olim than right after the State’s 78th Independence Day, welcome home,” he said.

Almog said the arrival showed that “the Zionist vision continues to be realized day by day.”

“Members of the Bnei Menashe community bring with them unconditional love for the State of Israel,” he said. “Our responsibility is not only to receive, but to accompany, embrace and create for them a foundation of opportunity, belonging and future.”

The new arrivals mark the opening stage of a wider effort that is expected to continue for several years, as Israel prepares to absorb thousands more members of the community.