First Wave of 250 Bnei Menashe Immigrants Lands in Israel to Reconnect Ancient Biblical Lineage

Over 250 members of the Bnei Menashe "lost tribe" landed in Israel on April 23, 2026, starting a new government-funded operation to relocate the community.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 24, 2026, 2:45 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from AFP and The Times of Israel.

The Restoration of a Lost Biblical Tribe

The arrival of more than 250 Bnei Menashe immigrants at Ben Gurion Airport on Thursday represents a significant milestone in Israel’s ongoing efforts to gather descendants of the "lost tribes." This group, hailing from the Indian state of Manipur, is the first to arrive since the Israeli government authorized a comprehensive funding plan in November to facilitate the immigration of thousands of community members. Identifying as the "Sons of Manasseh," the Bnei Menashe claim ancestry from one of the ten tribes exiled by the Assyrian Empire in 720 BCE, a claim that has sparked both religious interest and large-scale state-sponsored relocation efforts.

A Historic Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport

Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer welcomed the newcomers upon their landing, describing the event as a historic moment for the State of Israel. According to Sofer, this flight serves as the inaugural phase of a broader operation intended to bring the entire community to Israel at a rate of approximately 1,200 individuals per year. The minister noted that the government is committed to ensuring that those waiting in India can finally reunite with their families and roots, fulfilling a decades-long aspiration for many in the Manipur and Mizoram regions of northeast India.

Oral Traditions and the Path to Return

The Bnei Menashe maintain a rich oral history that chronicles a centuries-long migration across Persia, Afghanistan, Tibet, and China before settling in India. Throughout this exodus, the community reportedly preserved specific Jewish rituals, such as circumcision and the observance of certain ancient festivals, despite being converted to Christianity by 19th-century missionaries. The Shavei Israel organization, which has been instrumental in tracing these descendants, estimates that approximately 4,000 Bnei Menashe have already moved to Israel since the 1990s, leaving an additional 7,000 community members still residing in India.