Israel’s Plan to Bring 3,300 Bnei Menashe from India Faces Delays Despite Netanyahu’s Approval

New Delhi/Tel Aviv: The path for the Bnei Menashe community from India to Israel has always been challenging. The process, initiated in the 1950s by Mela Chala, a member of the Mizo community, popularized the belief that the Mizo people were descendants of one of the lost tribes of Israel. Over decades, this faith in their Jewish heritage has driven many to seek migration to Israel, though the journey has been far from straightforward.

After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval, the government began screening Bnei Menashe applicants in India. In December 2025, a camp in Aizawl shortlisted approximately 3,300 applicants after interviews conducted by a 25-member delegation led by a Deputy Director-General from Israel’s Aliyah and Absorption Ministry. This was the first direct government-led screening in nearly a decade; the last batch of migrants interviewed in 2015 eventually moved under the Shavei Israel program in 2021.

The applicants represented diverse backgrounds, including professionals, students, laborers, and affluent families. Some, like 34-year-old Asaf Renthle, hold advanced degrees, while others, such as 65-year-old Nadav Hohnar and his wife, live in large family homes in Aizawl. Most applicants already have relatives in Israel.

Despite the interviews, migration has been delayed. The Bnei Menashe’s journey to Israel has historically been complicated, with intermittent recognition by Israeli authorities. In 2005, Israel’s Chief Rabbi formally recognized the Bnei Menashe as descendants of the lost tribes, allowing the migration process to proceed. Experts suggest that bureaucratic challenges, logistical hurdles, and ongoing regional and international issues are contributing to the current delays.

For many community members, the wait is filled with hope and uncertainty. Ruth Hangsang, a 33-year-old from Hebron village in Kolasib, Mizoram, left her job in Kochi to prepare for migration but continues to support her family by helping produce traditional Cuki handicrafts. For families like hers, the move to Israel represents both a spiritual fulfillment and the continuation of a generational journey.