People In India Recognized As Descendants Of Jew Leave For Israel To Live

A Bnei Menashe Jewish community woman, right, bids goodbye as other leaves for Israel from Churachandpur, in India’s northeastern state of Manipur Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. The Jews from India’s northeastern state of Manipur are known as Bnei Menashe and claim to be descendants of one the 10 lost tribes of Israel banished to India in the eighth century B.C. An Israeli chief rabbi recognized them as a lost tribe in 2005 and about 1,700 moved to Israel before the Israeli government stopped giving them visas. The government recently reversed that policy and about 50 of the 7,200 remaining in India were heading to the Jewish state.

A Bnei Menashe Jewish community boy prays in a Synagogue, during a prayer ceremony, before he leaves for for Israel from Churachandpur, in India’s northeastern state of Manipur Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012.

Bnei Menashe Jewish community people pose for a group photo in a community hall before they leave for Israel from Churachandpur, in India’s northeastern state of Manipur Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. <AP Photo/Anupam Nath>