'Lost tribe of Israel' to return to Jewish homeland after five-year legal fight

• Villagers from northeastern India will be allowed to settle in Israel
• They claim to be the Bnei Menashe, who were banished in eighth century
• They were recognised by a Rabbi in 2005 but many Israelis dispute it
• Some say they are not Jews and are simply fleeing poverty in India
• Nearly 300 will arrive in the coming weeks
• Ex-minister says Israel is using them to strengthen its claims to West Bank

Dozens of Indian Jews who claim to be the descendants of a lost biblical Jewish tribe emigrated to Israel from their village in India on Monday, celebrating their arrival after a five-year struggle to get in.
The Bnei Menashe, from the northeastern part of India, say they are descended from Jews banished from ancient Israel to India in the eighth century B.C.
An Israeli chief rabbi recognised them as one of the 10 'lost tribes' in 2005, and about 1,700 moved to Israel over the next two years before the government stopped giving them visas.

Overjoyed: Immigrants from the Bnei Menashe tribe of the Jewish community in Manipur, northeast India, reunite with their family members at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv on Monday

New life: Fifty members of Bnei Menashe arrived this week to join the 1,700 already resident in Israel

Emotional: Friends and relatives who were forced apart tearfully embrace, while others prepare to build a life alone or with just their immediate family

Hopeful: No genetic studies have yet proved ancestry for the Bnei Menash, who claim they were exiled in the eighth century BC

'Dream': Family members greet relatives, with a further 7,200 Bnei Menashe waiting to join them from in the Indian states of Mizoram and Manipur

Arguments: Members of the tribe are eligible to emigrate if they convert, although the Indian authorities have resisted the process

Israel recently reversed that policy, agreeing to let the remaining 7,200 Bnei Menashe immigrate.

Fifty-three arrived in Tel Aviv on a flight Monday. Michael Freund, an Israel-based activist on their behalf, said nearly 300 others will arrive in the coming weeks.

 

'This is a very moving aliyah,' he told ynetnews.com. 'We feel like our lost brothers have come home.'

WHO ARE THE BNEI MENASHE?

The Bnei Menashe (sons of Manasseh) claim descent from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, who were sent into exile by the Assyrian Empire (above) more than 27 centuries ago.
Their ancestors wandered through Central Asia and the Far East for centuries, before settling in what is now northeastern India, along the border with Burma and Bangladesh.
The Bnei Menashe practise Judaism, observing the Sabbath, keeping kosher, celebrating the festivals and following family laws.
An Israeli chief rabbi recognised them as one of the 10 'lost tribes' in 2005, and about 1,700 moved to Israel over the next two years, helped by Israel-based organisation Shavei, before the government stopped giving them visas.
Another 7,200 remain in India, hoping to move, and Israel recently agreed they too would be allowed to immigrate, provided they convert first. India, however, does not support the policy, which may trigger a mass exodus.
Some do not believe the tribe qualify as Jews, however, claiming that they simply want to escape poverty in India.
Avraham Poraz, a former interior minister, said they were not linked to the Jewish people and claimed Israeli settlers were using them to strengthen Israel's claims to the West Bank.
Several genetic studies have been undertaken, but none has yet proved ancestry, according to author Nadia Abu El-Haj.

Freund, who joined the flight from India, said that during the trip 'we all had tears of joy in our eyes, realising that this is part of the closure of a 2,700-year historical circle of this lost tribe.'
Freund stressed that 'their immigration to Israel demonstrates the power and determination of the Jewish faith: Despite being cut off for hundreds and thousands of years, they never forgot who they were and where they want to return to.'
Lhing Lenchonz, 26, arrived in Israel with her husband and eight-month-old daughter.
'After waiting for thousands of years, our dream came true,' she said. 'We are now in our land.'
Ben Asher, 23, who arrived with his family, added: 'Israel is my heritage and religion. Israel is everything to me. We are very happy. We've been waiting for this moment for hundreds of years.'
He plans to join the Israel Defense Forces soon. 'I want to serve my country in any way possible,' he added.
Zimra Danapa, 20, flew to Israel with her mother and sister. 'I have fulfilled my dream,' she said.
'After many years of hoping to arrive in Israel, I am very excited to be here.
'We plan to build our life here and bring more family members here.'
Zvi Kalfa, a community member who immigrated to Israel 13 years ago, leaving his parents behind, said: 'At the airport there was an exciting reunion. Some of the immigrants united with their relatives who have already been here for years.
'Our hope is to bring everyone here.'
But not all Israelis think Bnei Menashe qualify as Jews, and some suspect they are simply fleeing poverty in India.
Avraham Poraz, a former interior minister, said they were not linked to the Jewish people.
He also charged that Israeli settlers were using them to strengthen Israel's claims to the West Bank.
When Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar recognized the Bnei Menashe as a lost tribe in 2005, he insisted they undergo conversion to be recognised as Jews.
He sent a rabbinical team to India that converted 218 Bnei Menashe, until Indian authorities stepped in and stopped it.

Faith: The Bnei Menashe practise Judaism, observing the Sabbath, keeping kosher, celebrating the festivals and following family laws

A former Israeli interior minister, said that Israeli settlers were using the Bnei Menashe to strengthen Israel's claims to the disputed West Bank

The Bnei Menashe come from the states of Mizoram and Manipur near India's border with Myanmar, where, they say, their ancestors landed after the Assyrians banished them.

Over the centuries they became animists, and in the 19th century, British missionaries converted many to Christianity.
Even so, the group says they continued to practise ancient Jewish rituals, including animal sacrifices, which they say were passed down from generation to generation.
Jews in the Holy Land stopped animal sacrifices after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Disasters, refugee issue dominate Mizoram scene in 2012

By H C Vanlalruata

Aizawl: 2012 was a year of disaster, both man-made and natural, in Mizoram and an acute shortage of essential commodities throughout the year added to people's woes while the vexed issue of repatriation of Bru refugees continued to haunt the government.

With the Christians-dominated state scheduled to go for assembly elections next year, Opposition parties were very vocal in their criticism of the Congress government.

Two issues that dominated the year dealt with minority communities -- Hmars and Brus, also known as Reangs.

Acute shortage of essential commodities, especially cooking gas, resulted in Opposition parties stepping up their attacks on the government and even distributing bags of charcoal to the people.

The main opposition Mizo National Front also distributed candles free of cost to people in protest against the intermittent power supply in the state.

Nine persons were killed and more than 10 injured due to several fire incidents till October while 152 houses were gutted and properties worth Rs 17.12 crore lost.

The worst fire incident was in February when 29 houses and three government buildings were completely gutted at the Bazar Veng locality in south Mizoram's Saiha town.

Opposition parties alleged that most of the fire incidents occurred due to acute shortage of cooking gas and electricity as people resorted to alternate cooking and lighting devices like kerosene stoves and candles resulting in frequent accidents.

More than ten people including a woman and her daughter were killed due to landslides triggered by monsoon rains.

Many people were killed in several road mishaps with the worst accident being when 18 people died and 19 were injured when a bus was swept down to a deep gorge by a massive landslide in July. In March, 16 people died and 23 were injured when a bus fell into a deep gorge near the Mizoram-Manipur border.

In the beginning of the year, Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana said that the state government would not consider resumption of peace talks with the Manipur-based Hmar People's Convention -- Democrats militants with whom the government signed Suspension of Operations in 2010.

The state government even launched a crackdown on the HPC-D after the group's threats resulting in disband of the most powerful body Young Mizo Association in the Hmar-dominated areas adjoining neighbouring Manipur.

In a major setback for the HPC-D, its self-styled army chief Lalropuia and self-styled deputy army chief Lalbiaknunga were arrested. Then its 'chairman' H Lalsangbera was arrested in Delhi [ Images ] in July.

The strained relations between the Hmar militant group and the state government resurfaced when the state election commission failed to conduct village council polls in the Hmar-dominated areas as no nomination was filed despite repeated postponement of the last date of filing of nominations.

The failure of the state election to conduct elections to the 15 village councils in the Hmar-dominated areas during October might have prompted the state government to reconsider its stance on the talks with the HPC-D as the talks on the official level began again on December 13.

Another issue that continued to haunt the state government and the people was the vexed issue of repatriation of Bru refugees lodged in the six relief camps of North Tripura district since late 1997.

Though the repatriation of the Bru refugees was stalled during mid-2011 due to different reasons including demands by Mizo NGOs for rehabilitation on 83 Mizo families displaced from Sakhan range in Tripura, the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's [ Images ] efforts prompted resumption of the repatriation process materialised from April 26.   

However, the fourth phase of Bru repatriation could not be implemented due to massive opposition from the bodies representing the refugees including the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum as only seven families returned to Mizoram during the fourth phase and the state government submitted its report to the Union home ministry saying that the repatriation could not take off due to opposition from the refugees themselves.

Mizoram also witnessed unprecedented spurt of abductions for ransom by militants with the first case being the kidnapping of six executives of the Assam-based construction company -- the Anupam Bricks and Concrete Industries Limited on March 25 from south Mizoram's Mauzam hamlet by suspected NLFT cadres.

The abducted persons, for whom Rs 120 lakh was demanded as ransom, were released after being held hostage for more than a month, reportedly after the ransom was paid.

In another incident, three non-tribal timber traders were abducted by suspected militants belonging to the newly-formed Borok National Council of Tripura and NLFT combine in November and were taken to and kept as hostages till date in a jungle near Zopui and Thangnang villages in Bangladesh.

On the religious front, the Presbyterian Church of Mizoram, which severed its decade-long ties with the Presbyterian Church of the US after the latter was considered to be too liberal on the issue of homosexuality decided to have relationship with the Presbyterian Church in America.

The Synod of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church made the decision to snap ties with the Presbyterian Church of the United States after the latter agreed to ordain gays as priests and also to the marriage between people having the same sex.

The Presbyterian Church finally agreed to do away with the Mizo traditional 'Hlamzuih' concept, which regarded that infants who died before attaining three months do not deserve decent Christian burial.

Security tightened before Christmas in Mizoram

Aizawl Dec 24 : Elaborate security arrangements were made to ensure peaceful celebration of Christmas in the Christian-dominated Mizoram, police said today.

"Aizawl city has been divided into four zones which would be headed by two Sub-Divisional Police Officers and Officers-in-Charge (OC) of the four police stations, designated as zonal officers," Superintendent of Police in Aizawl, L R Dingliana Sailo, told PTI.

"The four zones are again divided into 12 sectors where temporary outposts were established and more than 100 policemen were on duty round-the-clock since Monday," Sailo said.

Mobile Police patrol and foot patrolling were also pushed into service while senior police officials would also make rounds to visit duty posts of the policemen as also the duty posts of the Village Defence Party (VDP) and Young Mizo Association (YMA), he said.

The police also appealed to the people to cooperate with the law enforcement officials so that the Christmas and New Year festivities were completely peaceful.

Your love is lifting me higher

The world's tallest teenage girl walks hands in hands with her boyfriend, the picture of young love despite a staggering 1ft 4in height difference.
Elisany da Cruz Silva, 17, measures an unbelievable 6ft 8in tall and has to bend down to plant a kiss on her 4ft 4in lover Francinaldo da Silva Carvalho, 22.
The youngster, from Salinopolis in Brazil, has a form of gigantism because of a tumour on her pituitary gland, which regulates growth. Doctors have since removed the tumour.

The height of passion: Brazil's tallest teen, Elisany da Cruz Silva with her boyfriend, Francinaldo da Silva Carvalho in Salinopolis, Brazil

Loved up: At 6ft 8in-tall, Elisany towers over her smitten partner, who is just 5ft 4in

The aspiring model told Vietnam-based broadcaster BTV: 'What really attracted me was his personality, the way he acts with people and the way he acts with me.
'The only thing that really affects us is when we hang out holding hands - it seems like he is my little brother or son.

'But I didn't choose him, God did.'

Tender: The couple says the extreme height difference does not matter

Love no matter what: Francinaldo says his girlfriend, who aspires to be a model, is a 'beautiful person'

The pair are happy together and she loves nothing more than stooping to kiss him and giving him clothes from the top shelf which he cannot reach

Construction worker Francinaldo says his friends ask things about how he hugs her, but he tells them there is a way of doing everything.
He added: 'She is a beautiful person. She is tall but she is so pretty, with a beautiful face. I don't mind having a tall girlfriend.
'I feel free and relaxed as a person and don't care what people say.'

Condition: The pretty 17-year-old who aspires to be a model, has a form of gigantism caused by a tumour of the pituitary gland

Surgeons removed the tumour causing her height condition two years ago after her story was first publicised

Elisany was too tall to ride the school bus and says she left school because of teasing from classmates.
She added: 'It's hard when I'm inside home. I get distracted and hit the wood in the ceiling with my head.
Elisany lives in a small house with her sisters and mother Ana Maria Silva and step-father Luiz Jorge.
Her mother said: 'I want her be like the other girls because I know she feels weird and sometimes wants to be like them.'

Family: Elisany da Cruz Silva with her mother Ana Maria Ramos in Salinopolis in the north of Brazil

Elisany with her mother, Ana Maria Ramos, and sister, Meire. Her quick growth caused her migraines and pains in her limbs

Kelly Brook Wicked calendar shoot

It may not be the most traditional Mrs Claus outfit, but Kelly Brook's admirers certainly won't mind when they get their copy of her 2013 calendar.
Dressing up in an array of temperature raising outfits, this red number was by far the most festive and could very well be the picture to go with next December's page in her annual.
Wearing a lacy cape with matching hotpants, the model showed that although she has dipped her toes in the acting and presenting pool, Kelly's greatest assets are not her performance skills, rather those famous curves.

Festive: Kelly Brooks Mrs Claus outfit may be a little raunchier than tradition but those buying her calendar certainly won't mind

However racy the picture looks, there is something slightly spiritual about her pose.
Hands raised, facing upwards and held out on each side, the glamour model had a crimson crown of thorns positioned round her head, as though she was recreating an image of Jesus Christ.
Another reason why this shot may very well be for the twelfth month, when considering the son of God's birthday.

 

Putting up a fight: Kelly Brook shares raunchy snaps from her 2013 calendar shoot

A behind the scenes video - just over a minute long - documents the shoot,  beginning with a wet haired Kelly telling the camera: 'Hi, I;m Kelly Brook and welcome to my 2013 calendar shoot.'
It then cuts to montage of the stunning model in a range of barely there costumes.
In one scene the brunette star is dancing in a sports crop top with boxing gloves on as she shares a joke with those working on the shoot with her.

Baywatch: Kelly pays homage to Pamela Anderson in a very revealing red swimsuit as a wind machine blows her hair

Ready for action: Kelly poses wearing a pair of boxing gloves while her nipples are covered with gaffer tape

Viewers don't just see her in a range of sexy costumes, there are also glimpses of the star getting her hair and make up done.
In another scene she pays homage to Pamela Anderson's Baywatch character as she slips into a very high-leg red bikini.
And then as if there isn't enough flesh on the display, she pulls together the top half, so just her nipples are covered by the red costume.

Biker chic: Kelly wows in lacy leotard which is see-through as she sits on a motor bike

Wet look: The model slips into a pink swimsuit with a hose pipe in her hand, while she pouts for the camera

Wild thing: The clothes designer peels off her jacket revealing leopard print lining, she also has star transfers up her thigh

Kelly then turns up the heat even more in a see-through lacy leotard giving viewers a glimpse of her nipples beneath, which she wears as she straddles a motorbike.
A fan of fifties pin-up girls, she then wears a leopard print bra with a bow in her hair. As she turns around her bare bottom is revealed.
She then changes from pin-up to Hula girl wearing just a pair of knickers and a flower garland which just about covers her modesty.

Funky headdress: It's not all about her body as Kelly wears a large red headdress with matching red lipstick

American girl: The 33-year-old appeals to her fans across the pond in a stars and stripes tank top, as she hold a banana

According to The Sun a number of the images were deemed too raunchy to actually appear in her calender.
It seems the 33-year-old has spent much of this year in various states of undress.
Kelly took to the stage in November for a stint in London burlesque show Crazy Horse, in which she stripped off each night.
She also had a role in Keith Lemon: The Film and again spent much of the time in her underwear.
Apart from turning up the heat in her calender shoot amongst other things, Kelly has been getting into the Christmas spirit visiting Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park with her boyfriend Thom Evans.

Welcome: A wet-haired Kelly greets fans to her behind the scenes video

Made up: Kelly gets her hair and make-up done ahead of the shoot

Cheeky: As well as being very sexy, Kelly had fun on the shoot posing with a fake mustache on her finger

Hmar Rebels Start Talks With Mizoram

By Lalremlien Neitham

Aizawl, Dec 21 : The Hmar People Convention (Democratic) in its press statement yesterday informed that representatives of the HPC(D) and Mizoram government met at Silchar, Assam on December 13, 2012 to chalk out solutions for a peace dialogue between the two to solve the long pending political demands of the Hmars in Mizoram.

John F.Hmar, info & publicity secretary of the Hmar insurgent group said that before the Mizoram-Hmar political talks, Suspension of Operation (SoO) will be signed by both parties expectedly in January 2013 .

The HPC(D) however added that political dialogues cannot be held and no agreements will be signed without the HPC(D)'s Chairman H.Zosangbera, 'Army Chief' Lalropui his deputy Lalbieknung who are currently incarcerated in the Central Jail at Tanhril near Aizawl.

The Mizoram Police arrested the three leaders in June this year from Silchar & New Delhi airports.

The HPC(D) also said that it expects the Mizoram government to be honest and sincere in its approach to solve the Hmar political issues in Mizoram.

Manipur''s Gangte Tribe Attempts To Create Record in Bible Reading

Churachandpur (Manipur), Dec 21 : More than 7000 people from the Gangte tribe participated in a record attempt to mass read the Holy Bible at an event in Manipur in a bid to enter record books and get recognition for the community on a national level.

The event was organized in the state''s tribal dominated Churachandpur district where the Gangte people gathered to take part in the centenary gospel celebrations of the local church organization on Sunday.

About 7,047 people from the community gathered at a local ground for the event and read all of the 16 chapters from the Bible''s entire Book of Romans portion.

The event started at around 1.30 pm and the feat was completed in a span of about an hour.

The event was also organized in a bid to make it an entry into the Limca Book of Records and get recognition for the community on a national level.
The Limca Book of Records is India''s premier organization that keeps a data of records made by people in various feats throughout the country.
For most of the participants, the event, apart from a record attempt, has also helped in fostering societal bonds among the people from the tribe.
"This is an event of the Gangte, and it is part of the centenary celebrations. So we just want to try for the Limca Book of Records by reading the Bible by a number considering around
7000, through mass reading.
"And it is imparting a lot of education in the society for a better future especially in our community, that is Gangte tribe," said Albert Gangte, a participant.
The Gangte tribe, mostly Baptist Christians, is one of the many tribes in the state of Manipur that come under the umbrella category of the Kukis.

Manipur Actor Molested On Stage

By Kishalay Bhattacharjee

Chandel, Manipur: Momoko, a popular young actor in Manipur, was headlining a fund-raising concert in the state's Chandel town when a man climbed onto the stage.

"He was touching me. I warned him. Then he pulled my hair and threw me on the ground and repeatedly kicked me. He also hit me in the left eye," she said.

NDTV does not reveal the identities of women who have been assaulted, but Momoko requested that her identity not be concealed. She says she is determined to raise awareness of the violence women confront alone even in crowded places.

The man who she accuses of assaulting her is Livingstone Anal, a leader of the once-banned National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM), the armed militia now in a ceasefire with the government of India.

A co-performer who tried to help Momoko was shot at by Anal, but escaped unhurt.

Hundreds marched in the state capital of Imphal today to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh's office, demanding action.

Home Minister Gaikhangam has promised action, but the militant leader is yet to be arrested.

"When we asked the securitymen why they didn't help, they said they are on ceasefire. Does that mean a woman gets beaten in front of the police and they do nothing?" asked the actor.

Ceasefire rules prohibit armed militant groups from moving around with arms, but across the region they violate this with impunity.