Aizawl, Nov 26: Around 300 members of the Bnei Menashe community in Mizoram, who identify as descendants of the biblical tribe of Manasseh, are preparing to migrate to Israel by February 2026, community leader Jeremiah L. Hnamte confirmed.

An equal number of community members from neighboring Manipur are also expected to join the migration under Israel’s Aliyah (Return to Zion) program. Hnamte and his spouse will be part of the group, reuniting with their children already settled in Israel.

The migration is part of a larger plan approved by the Israeli government to resettle nearly 6,000 Bnei Menashe members by 2030, primarily in the Galilee region. The Israeli government plans to provide financial aid, language courses, job counseling, and housing to help the newcomers integrate.

Since gaining recognition from Israel’s Chief Rabbinate, thousands of Bnei Menashe have emigrated from India, with around 5,000 already residing in Israel as of late 2023. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the migration as strategic, emphasizing its significance in strengthening Israel’s northern region.