October 12, 2005
Israeli rabbis have formally converted a community of Indians who say they are descended from Jews. Some 200 members of the Bnei Menashe underwent conversion this week under six rabbinical judges dispatched to India by the Shavei Israel organization. The conversions were performed with the approval of Israel’s chief Sephardi rabbi, Shlomo Amar. Last March, Amar recognized the Bnei Menashe, who claim descent from the lost Israelite tribe of Manasseh, as “descendants of Israel” and agreed to restore them to the Jewish people. According to Shavei Israel, more than 800 Bnei Menashe have emigrated to Israel.
