Indian Jews

For Indian Jews, Birthright Gives Glimpse of Life as Majority Group

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Dina Kraft

It's not just American teens who are taking advantage of the Birthright Israel program. See why these Jewish Indian teens and 20-somethings are enjoying the homeland.

JAFFA, Israel, June 13 (JTA) – Zohar Reuben, 24, of Mumbai explores the narrow alleyways and stalls of Jaffa's outdoor flea market with fellow young Jews from India after a long journey that has taken them from the Galilee to Jerusalem.

It's on this birthright tour of Israel, thousands of miles from home, that Reuben has found, for the first time, close Jewish friends his own age from India.

Israel Will Soon Welcome from India, Descendants of a "Lost" Jewish Tribe

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Dina Kraft

A group of northeastern Indian Jews are immigrating to Israel. Find out about these real-life lost tribes and how they made their way back to Judaism and the Holy Land.

TEL AVIV, Sept. 26 (JTA) - A group of 218 people from a remote mountainous corner of northeastern India who claim descent from one of the lost biblical tribes will be immigrating to Israel as recognized Jews for the first time.

The aliyah of members from the Bnei Menashe community to Israel is a turning point, said Michael Freund, founder of Shavei Israel which assists "lost Jews" seeking to return to the Jewish people.