Jewish Scene
Members of Bnei Menashe to make aliyah
Itamar Eichner
Published: 08.01.10, 16:16
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1. craziness
dani   (01.08.10)
can we stop this lost tribe nonsense please?
2. wonderful news, welcome home to Judaism
David ,   Boston, USA   (01.08.10)
We need to bring back more people to Judaism. I am sure there are millions of them around the world Kol Hakavod.
3. #1 Dani
David ,   USA, exile   (01.08.10)
Prove your Jewishness in the manner found in Ezra and Nehemiah then talk. Until then, shut up. Scripture says that Israel will return to the Land. Who are you to say otherwise.
4. :: Sure why not!?
Matty Groves ,   Fairport   (01.08.10)
What is another obscure ethnic group (in this case Sino-Tibetan) with a dubious claim to be added to the mix? Heck if all the Palestinians were to convert to Judaism tomorrow they would be welcomed into Israel with open arms as long lost Jews! The criteria of ‘Jewishness’ is so watered down nowadays that nearly anyone can claim to be descendant from a ‘Jewish heritage’ regardless how flimsy the claim is.
5. More Jewish than me
Eric ,   Israel   (01.08.10)
Look, I dont care if they are Jews for 2000 years or 2 years. If these guys love the land of Israel and are willing to live here and die here and maybe die to live here then by all means welcome to our country! On top of that they put tfilin and pray? That makes them more Jewish than me if you want to go by the book.
6. ARE THEY REALLY MANASSEH THE TRIBE....?
Benjamin ,   SINGAPORE   (01.08.10)
JUST TAKE THEM OR TAEK THEM AS CONVERTS. BUT I DONT UNDERSTAND, WHY CONVERT THEM IF THEY ARE HAVING THE BLOOD IN THEM ? THIS IS A DILEMMA CREATED BY THE CHABAD BOYS ! ANYWAY IF THE CONVERSION IS valid TAKE THEM ! OR TAKE THEM AS GENTILES ! OUR AS JEWS BY CHOICE.! OR AS JEWS BY PARENTAGE! OR BY THE LAW OF RETURN! IF THEY ARE JEWS WHAT CONVERSION HA STO DO WITH THEM ? DO SCREW UP THE HALAKAH !
7. Bring all 2 million home
elan ,   toronto   (01.08.10)
The Israeli Menashe community serve the army and are devout zionists, just what Israel needs, and there hasn't been an issue with their absorption
8. #1 is an enemy and should be disregarded
Frank ,   USA   (01.08.10)
9. Dani,!#,what is your problem?
Judah ,   Golan Heights,ISRAEL   (01.08.10)
I would welcome these new immigrants if they come to the Golan.
10. bnai menshe
harryt ,   canada   (01.08.10)
So how do they get a conversion acceptable to the rabbinate. Are they all going to bee probational Jews and all shomer shabbot and mitzvahs for the rest of their lives? I think not!
11. Shavei: Doing the Lord's work
Alan ,   Merida, Mexico   (01.08.10)
God bless these people and those that assist them!
12. Wow! Yet another "Lost Tribe"?
Cameron ,   USA   (01.08.10)
I get a kick out of how these 3rd-World types work this angle to escape their basketcase homes. I know a hustle when I hear one. Next group from Mongolia? Patagonia? The Congo? hee hee
13. Be careful, B'nai Menashe!
Miransky ,   US and A   (01.08.10)
Be careful, dear B'nai Menashe, that your now-valid conversions are not one day revoked by the capricious whim of the rabbinate.
14. to # 12 Cameron
erez ,   haifa   (01.09.10)
The only basketcase is your head! 3rd word types you mean us jews from yemen and North africa? There are members of the hebrew faith for centuries Aisian countries and Nigeria, Mali, Ghana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and cape verde. Go read a book and then kill your East European self!
15. aliya is about bringing jews not raising converts
joi   (01.09.10)
there is no proof of any jewish ancestry here at all, look at the history of the country for a few hundred years and see. Raising and teaching Judaism and then converting them in order to qualify them for aliya is wrong.
16. It's a hustle, #14
Cameron ,   USA   (01.09.10)
Only the sweat over demagraphics & Jewish no.s would prompt Israel to indulge this cynical, 3rd-World "escape hatch" routine.
17. Cameron is completely ignorant
Mosheh   (01.09.10)
You obviously dont understand Judaism which teaches to welcome the foreigner.. The Bnei Menashe are devoted Jews...regardless whether they are descendants of Israelites or converts if they follow Judaism they are Jews. Your typical arrogant elitist Ashkenazi attitude wont make you or Israel any more popular in the world and frankly we shouldnt care about popularity Israel needs Jews and these people from India are Jews!
18. I dislike the ignorant comments
Hanan ,   Israel   (01.09.10)
Several Bnei Menashe families are living in my hometown. For those who are sceptic about their Judaism and really ignorant and lost the sense of research, I have a very simple answer. Myself, I'm a secular Jew, a sinner in the definition of the religious Jews. Those Bnei Menashe in my hometown are religious Jews who are visiting the synagogue for the prayers during the weekdays and Shabbat. The men and children are wearing the yarmulka (Kippah) and their women are wearing humble and long dressing. So those Jews who are trying to protect Judaism are purely ignorant and their ignorance is driving them to racism and hatred. Visit http://friendship-prior-peace.blogspot.com/ and you'll probably learn something else.
19. This Ashkenazi Jew would like to see more Sephardi and other
David ,   Boston, USA   (01.10.10)
We Jews are the same underneath but different local customs. I cherish that same and differentness in all Jews. Who cares what the skin color is? Practice Judaism and welcome to the Jewish people. Israel is an amazing melting pot of Jews from all over the world and gentiles too. Remember, even ancient hebrews had outsiders become part of our people. This tradition should continue and those lost tribes should be brought back. There are millions of them out there. Bring them home to Judaism, to Israel or staying in the Disapora, but bring as many of these people around the world back to Judaism. There are many in Portugal, Spain, Central and South America.
20. Pardon me for sneering, but it's a game & hustle, #17
Cameron ,   USA   (01.09.10)
It has a desperate quality to it. Both sides play out this farce with a smile. Sign of the times, man.
21. #6 - Who cares about their ancestry
Josh ,   USA   (01.10.10)
If they are willing to have an orthodox conversion then they are just as Jewish as anyone here.
22. To all ignorant Judaism keepers (but they are not)
Hanan ,   Israel   (01.10.10)
Several Bnei Menashe families are living in my hometown. For those who are sceptic about their Judaism and really ignorant and lost the sense of research, I have a very simple answer. Myself, I'm a secular Jew, a sinner in the definition of the religious Jews. Those Bnei Menashe in my hometown are religious Jews who are visiting the synagogue for the prayers during the weekdays and Shabbat. The men and children are wearing the yarmulka (Kippah) and their women are wearing humble and long dressing. So those Jews who are trying to protect Judaism are purely ignorant and their ignorance is driving them to racism and hatred. Visit http://friendship-prior-peace.blogspot.com/ and you'll probably learn something else.
23. Reply to # 19 There are one or two in Boston as well
Avi ,   Israel   (01.10.10)
"Bring them home to Judaism, to Israel or staying in the Disapora" Well thats rich coming from you !
24. to #4 what wrong you don't like your relatives
ghostq   (01.10.10)
and you contradice yourself, cause this Bnei Menashe r genetic relatives with faith, but you r talking about convertion to people not nesecerily semetic, is that mean that if you don't follow religion acording to your logic doesn't count for being a jew? cause if it's all a matter of convertion... where did I heard that before... oh yeah the romans bought people for chritianity. funny how jewish person sound so racist and decide who is jewish and who doesn't.
25. Aliyah
Sad ,   Israel   (01.10.10)
Why is it that Jews that do not need conversion are not interested in making aliyah? This past year about 4000 arrived from North America...a drop in the bucket since there are around 5-6 million there.
26. to #19 you right but some jews r snobs
ghostq   (01.10.10)
I also read that in the polineze islands the was chif Solomon in one of the tribes, the father of that tribe was jewish and he married the local chif's daughter, This is very interesting story that was published in scientific magazin, but it's amazing to she that so many of his off springs cherish the name and their origin. lol nattives to the max :)
27. #6 Who cares about their ancestry????
Jo   (01.10.10)
as long as they convert?????? Fine, convert and they are now Jews, no problems there. But they are being groomed specifically to convert- and their ancestry is the reason given. So it is important. And who is doing the grooming? Some rabbis of course. Logic makes it possible for whole groups to just convert and be Jews. So what if they come and some leave orthodoxy, no longer observant life (much like many Ethopians have done) will they still be Jews? Yes they will. secular, but what if they revert to their original religion (which was not Judaism), then what? This myth of the lost ten tribes is exactly that - a myth, and you can find loads of groups that practice a semi Judaistic religion. Call it Jewish ancestry for everyone?!
28. they look chinese
(01.10.10)
29. #27
Josh ,   San Jose, USA   (01.11.10)
You're right - the idea that any modern population (other than Samaritans) can trace their ancestry to the 10 lost tribes is absurd. What we have here is a large group of people who, for whatever reason, have a strong desire to be Jewish and are willing to go through the halalchic process to become Jews. Religious tradition, practicality, and common decency all require that we welcome them with open arms. If any of these other "semi Judiastic" person wants to become a real Jew and is willing to go through a proper conversion, I'd welcome them as well. Your fears about the Bnei Menashe reverting to their old religion once they are in Israel are overblown. They seem to be doing a much better job following halacha than most secular Israelis are.
30. kol hakavode
eliyahu ,   jerusalem   (01.11.10)
How wonderful that these people who claim Jewish ancestry and really want to be Jews are finally coming home. Broochim habaim...treat them right, they are the highest of the high. They will do the country good and the Jewish people.
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