India’s entire Bnei Menashe community to emigrate to Israel by 2030

The Israeli government has officially decided to aid the emigration of thousands of members of India’s Bnei Menashe community, with tens of millions of shekel set aside for flights, conversion classes, Hebrew language education accommodation and other expenses.

The decision, taken by Israel’s cabinet on Sunday, was reportedly proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, supported by Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer. It will see the remaining members of the sect, based in Northeast India and thought to number approximately 6,000, brought to Israel by 2030, with 1,200 to arrive by the end of 2026. It is believed that they will be settled in cities in the country’s north, such as Nof Hagalil.

In a statement, Netanyahu called the move “an important and Zionist decision that will also strengthen the North and the Galilee”, adding that since the early 2000s, around 4,000 members of the Bnei Menashe community have been brought to Israel as part of decisions taken by previous governments.

While members of the Bnei Menashe consider themselves to be members of one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel (specifically, the tribe of Menashe), they are not considered to be Jewish by rabbinical authorities, and therefore have traditionally been ineligible to apply for Israeli citizenship under the country’s Law of Return. Those who make the decision to emigrate will be required to undergo Orthodox conversions to Judaism on their arrival. Israeli Rabbinate staff will reportedly be sent by the government to India to undertake background checks on those members of the community wishing to emigrate, to confirm their connection to Judaism.

On Monday, Netanyahu met India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, in Jerusalem, describing how “Israel and India are strengthening our strategic partnership, more investments, more innovation, and a strong economic corridor from India through Israel to Europe. Together we are building economic power.”