Best of AJL by Gaby Wine Helping “Lost Jews” Find the Way Home Freund with a Bnei Menashe child in Manipur, India 23 Best of AJL by Gaby Wine Greeting Chinese Jews from Kaifeng in Israel o suggest that one man “The Bnei Menashe had been writing Jews in all kinds of places. But we alone is able to change to Israeli Prime Ministers since Golda need to remain faithful to the historical the course of Jewish Meir, pleading to come home again,” record.” Thus, Freund researches history may sound a little recalls the 43-year old. “When I first the background of each claim before far-fetched, but Michael read the letter, I thought it was nuts, deciding whether or not to offer TFreund is certainly making a valiant but something about it struck me. Then assistance. attempt to change the future of many. I met them and thought: ‘If someone is crazy enough to join us, shouldn’t we “Some years ago, we received a letter Since founding the organization Shavei welcome them with open arms?’” from a community of Native Americans, Israel 10 years ago, the former New writing to seek recognition that they were Yorker has overseen the aliyah of Although the Jerusalem Post columnist a lost tribe of Israel – a belief that some several thousand ”Lost Jews” from peppers his conversation with light- people held in the 19th century. It was India, China and South America, as well hearted anecdotes, it is clear that he clear that it was just fanciful. People of as other countries. From northeastern takes his work seriously. “Through course are free to identify themselves as India alone, 1,700 Bnei Menashe, who no fault of their own, many Jews they wish, but that doesn’t necessarily are descended from a lost tribe of were taken from our people over the obligate us. It is the facts that matter.” Israel, have moved to the Jewish state centuries as a result of persecution and are now fully integrated into Israeli and exile,” Freund says. “I believe we In the case of the Bnei Menashe, Freund society. A further 7,200 are still hoping have a historical, moral and religious became convinced of their authenticity to make aliyah. responsibility to help them return.” after going to India to meet them. “They are fully Sabbath observant, they keep In 1997, Freund was working in Prime Whenever he hears about a community kosher, celebrate the festivals and pray Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office as of “Lost Jews,” however, he approaches three times a day. You can walk into one Deputy Communications Director, when their claim “from a position of of their synagogues, close your eyes he was handed a letter from the Bnei skepticism,” adding: “It‘s easy to get and think you are in New York or even Menashe, asking for assistance. swept away emotionally and to find Hong Kong.” 24 ASIAN JEWISH LIFE ISSUE 9 Best of AJL by Gaby Wine Jin Jin at the JCC/AJL event, photo courtesy of Don Gasper Reciting Havdalah with the Bnei Menashe Furthermore, DNA testing showed many to Christianity, a core group The Israeli government and Chief that they had genetic markers held onto their Judaism. “They built Rabbinate condition the aliyah of “Lost indicative of Middle Eastern origin, dozens of synagogues and even set Jews” on their undergoing an Orthodox says Freund. up an umbrella organization for their conversion when they move to Israel. community’s institutions – which is a “Ultimately it is in their interest, because The belief is that the Bnei Menashe are sure sign of Jewish DNA.” then no one can cast doubt on their descendants of the Tribe of Manasseh, Jewishness, which allows them to one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. The Until the Christian missionaries arrived integrate fully into Israeli society,” says Assyrian Empire sent them into exile and started writing things down, the Freund. “Indeed, their absorption has more than 27 centuries ago. Bnei Menashe only had an oral tradition. been a great success. Only four per “We might look askance at that, but cent of Bnei Menashe immigrants rely Their ancestors wandered through they come from an oral tradition. If you on social welfare benefits. Many of them Central Asia and the Far East for ask a Bnei Menashe for a family tree, go into higher education and several centuries, before settling in what is now you had better pull up a chair, since young men have already received northeastern India, along the border they can name ancestors going back Smicha (rabbinical ordination).” with Myanmar (formerly Burma) and generations.” Bangladesh. Rather than live in concentrated Five years ago, the Israeli government communities, as was the case for Olim Freund says that there is evidence in under Ehud Olmert decided to freeze from Ethiopia and Russia in the 80s and the diaries of British missionaries and the aliyah of the Bnei Menashe. When 90s, the Bnei Menashe are encouraged colonial military officers (written 100 the government changed, Freund, who to live in small clusters throughout the years ago), that the community kept moved to Israel himself 17 years ago, country. Initially, they considered opening various Jewish practices in India. They lobbied to restart the aliyah process. their own synagogue, but the consensus worshipped one God and referred (At the time of going to print, the aliyah was that it would hinder their integration. to him by the Hebrew word, ‘Yah.’ process was slated to resume after Though the missionaries converted Pesach). Freund says that the Bnei Menashe ASIAN JEWISH LIFE ISSUE 9 25 Best of AJL by Gaby Wine Consecration of the first kosher mikvehSynagogue in Manipur, exterior India haven’t experienced racism from fellow valuable work he is doing, it is not For his own part, Freund’s drive is Israelis, just curiosity. “Some people ask without comment from naysayers but hugely inspired by the work of his if they are from Thailand, since Israel even Freund himself admits that at first, late grandmother, Dr Miriam Freund- has a lot of Thai construction workers.” before investigation, he too had his Rosenthal. She was the national However, Israeli society is very different doubts. Hearing from someone firsthand president of Hadassah, and helped today than it was 50 years ago. “Then, who Shavei Israel helped, liked Jin Jin, a facilitate the Aliyah of North African the cultural lines were very stark. Kaifeng Jew who recently spoke at an Jews during the 1950s. Nowadays, it’s much more common for Asian Jewish Life/ Hong Kong Jewish Ashkenazim and Sephardim to marry Community Centre event, however, “Reaching out to lost and hidden one another. It’s part of the natural melts away doubt. Some decisions are Jewish communities is essential to our process of integration.” best made from the heart. future. We need more Jews. They are part of the extended Jewish family and The case of the Bnei Menashe is part As Freund explains, “There is an wish to return to the fold. It’s not yet a of a wider phenomenon, says Freund. awakening taking place among the mainstream idea, but it’s something I “More and more people are looking Chinese Jews of Kaifeng, many of whom am trying to change.” to reconnect with their Judaism, with are looking to return to their roots... The their roots. I consider it a blessed continued existence of Kaifeng’s Jews development, since it strengthens us is not only testimony to the power of spiritually and demographically.” Jewish memory, but also to the bonds For further information, of friendship that have existed between In addition to the Bnei Menashe, Freund China and the Jewish people for well visit www.shavei.org has also helped a growing number of over a thousand years. We have a or write to [email protected]. young Chinese Jews from Kaifeng, responsibility to them – and to ourselves China, to make aliyah. Despite the – to reach out and help them.” 26 ASIAN JEWISH LIFE ISSUE 9.