When Fellowship staff visited India recently to help coordinate Freedom Flights—part of a larger effort to bring 1,200 members of the Bnei Menashe tribe to Israel—they met many Jewish families living in remote parts of the country. During a special Yom HaAtzmaut event, the team handed out gifts to children. There, they met nine-year-old Moran, who would soon be on the first aliyah flight out of Delhi with her family.
Moran lives with her mother, father, older sister Miriam, and younger brother Oren on the outskirts of Aizawl, a city in the mountains of Mizoram. Some of their relatives made aliyah 12 years ago, and since then, Moran’s family has been waiting for the opportunity to join them in the Holy Land—a dream older than Moran herself. They live a simple life in a rural area and struggle to meet their basic needs. Despite this, Moran’s parents have remained committed to their children’s education.
Before heading to the airport, Fellowship staff took Moran and her family to a main bazaar in Delhi. This gave them the chance to buy food and clothing for their journey. They spent three wonderful hours together and then sat down for lunch. For the first time, Moran ordered a chocolate cake at a restaurant. Along with the toys she received, it made for a truly special day.
A new life now awaits Moran in Israel. She has stayed in touch with The Fellowship, sending videos to express her gratitude and share updates about her life at the Nof HaGalil absorption center as her family settles in.