Israel's Bnei Menashe hold prayer rally over Manipur ethnic violence

Indian émigrés to Israel Sunday evening flocked to the Western Wall in Jerusalem for a prayer rally over the ethnic violence in Manipur, India.

Over 70 have been murdered, hundreds hospitalized, and around 30,000 displaced in the ethnic war currently tearing through Northeastern India. Indian armed forces have imposed a curfew in the state and cut off internet access as the Meitei tribe, which makes up 60% of the Manipuri population, feuds with members of the smaller Kuki, Chin and Mizo tribes over their legal status.

The Meitei have been petitioning the Manipuri government to declare them a “Scheduled Tribe” like the Kuki-Chin-Mizo, who have been historically marginalized. Scheduled Tribe status grants these tribal minorities access to health, education and employment benefits. Most importantly for the Meitei, Scheduled Tribe members — or “tribals” — are also permitted to purchase tribal lands, currently off limits to the Meitei.

But current tribals are opposing the Meitei’s move out of concern that the Meitei’s large numbers would put the other tribes at a disadvantage when accessing government benefits. 

Skirmishes broke out earlier this month between the Meitei and tribals which quickly progressed to bloodshed. 

Among the tribals are the Bnei Menashe (“Children of Manasseh”), who are said to descend from the biblical tribe of Manasseh son of the patriarch Jacob. Its 10,000 members, spread across the Kuki-Chin-Mizo, count themselves as part of the Jewish nation and observe Jewish laws and customs. The Bnei Menashe have built themselves several synagogues and a mikveh (ritual bath) — a staple of any Jewish community — in Manipur. 

But the mikveh and at least one local synagogue in Manipur’s capital of Imphal have been set aflame as the Meitei target the Bnei Menashe, burning down the homes and cars of over 120 families around Imphal and the Bnei Menashe village of Beit Shalom. Meitei members have raided synagogues and burned the Torah scrolls inside before setting fire to the synagogues themselves. Yoel Beita, a member of Bnei Menashe and father of four, was murdered by Meitei militants.

“This is not your place, go to Israel!” Meitei members shouted at the Bnei Menashe.

Tamar Menashe Ostrav Hakimi, a Bnei Menashe native from Imphal, told Frontline News that her cousin’s wife and son were pulled from their car and murdered.

Many Bnei Menashe were forced to flee to the forests, along with other tribals, and it is unclear how many have returned. Some simply won’t, according to Esther Thangjom Schomberg, one of the Bnei Menashe community leaders in Judea.

“It’s so bad. People are suffering from PTSD. I don’t know if there are even a thousand of us who are willing to return home. It’s so unsafe,” said Schomberg.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reportedly in contact with relevant Indian authorities regarding the welfare of the Bnei Menashe community, but so far has taken no reported action.

On Sunday, members of the Bnei Menashe who emigrated to Israel organized a prayer rally for an end to the ethnic violence raging against their friends and families back home. They came from Samaria and the Judean hills to Jerusalem, where they gathered at the Western Wall.

“We had a choice whether to rally in front of the prime minister’s office or the Indian Embassy or other places,” said Schomberg. “We all chose to pray in front of the Kotel (Western Wall) and plead with G-d to save our kinsmen in Manipur.

The men prayed and the women recited two rounds from the Book of Psalms, which contain the most powerful prayers in Jewish liturgy. They held signs calling for an end to the pogroms in Manipur. Children joined in prayer alongside their mothers.

Rivka Lunkhel tells Frontline News she went to the rally to show solidarity with her fellow tribals in Manipur. While she proudly acknowledges she is Bnei Menashe, many among the Kuki-Chin-Mizo do not yet acknowledge their Jewish roots — something Lunkhel hopes will change. In the meantime, she and the other Bnei Menashe want the Kuki-Chin-Mizo to know they are praying for them at the holy site.