Upon arrival in Israel, a group of ecstatic new immigrants from India joyously sang their way through Ben-Gurion Airport.
Two groups Jews from northeastern India arrived in Israel this week, bringing a total of 162 new immigrants to the Jewish state.
Known as “B’nei Menashe,” they are believed to be the descendants of Menashe, one of the 10 lost tribes that were banished from the Land of Israel in the 8th century BCE after the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem.
The jubilant new immigrants made their way through Ben-Gurion Airport singing V’shavu banim l’gvulam, the prophet Jeremiah’s words, meaning, “And your children will return to their border.”
They achieved their dream of Aliyah thanks to the help of Shavei Israel, a Jerusalem-based nonprofit that calls itself “the only Jewish organization today that is actively reaching out to ‘lost Jews’ in an effort to facilitate their return [to Israel].”
Watch these joyous olim sing their way through Ben-Gurion Airport!