Nearly 600 Immigrants from India’s Bnei Menashe Community Arrive in Israel as Part of Joint Aliyah Effort

May 19, 2026

JERUSALEM (May 19, 2026) — Recently, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) helped welcome olim (immigrants) from the Bnei Menashe community from northeastern India to Israel as part of Operation “Wings of Dawn,” which has brought nearly 600 members of the ancient community to Israel in the past month. 1,200 members are expected to make aliyah by late 2026, with the rest of the community expected to follow by 2030.

The initiative is a cooperative effort led by multiple Israeli government agencies, including the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others alongside international partners such as The Jewish Agency, World Zionist Organization, The Jewish Federations of North America, The Fellowship, and others, and seeks to not only complete the aliyah of the remaining Bnei Menashe community members, but to ensure their successful integration into Israeli society.

The Bnei Menashe — whose name means “Children of Manasseh” – are a community of over 10,000 people from northeastern India who identify as descendants of the biblical tribe of Manasseh. For generations, they have maintained traditions connected to Judaism and have sought to return to Israel.

“After generations of holding onto their identity and faith, the Bnei Menashe are finally returning to the land of their ancestors,” said Yael Eckstein, President and Global CEO of The Fellowship. “It’s a powerful reminder of resilience, hope, and the enduring bond of the Jewish people to the land and people of Israel.”

Upon arrival, the new immigrants, many of whom are young families, will begin their integration process in absorption centers in northern Israel, and many will reunite with relatives who made aliyah in previous years.

Over the past two decades, approximately 4,000 members of the Bnei Menashe community have immigrated to Israel under previous government decisions. In total, approximately 6,000 olim are expected to arrive as part of Operation Wings of Dawn, thus completing the aliyah of the Bnei Menashe community to Israel.

“These flights are a powerful reminder that the story of aliyah is still being written today,” Eckstein added. “Each family that arrives is fulfilling a generations-old dream to return home. We are honored to stand with them on this journey and to help ensure they are welcomed with dignity, support, and a strong foundation for their new lives in Israel.”

About the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

For more than 40 years, The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) has been the leading non-profit building bridges between Christians and Jews, blessing Israel and the Jewish people around the world with humanitarian care and lifesaving aid. In 2025, The Fellowship helped 2 million people living in poverty, helped thousands make aliyah back to their homeland, Israel, and helped strengthen Israel’s security infrastructure. To learn more about the Fellowship’s work, visit www.ifcj.org.

About Yael Eckstein

As President and Global CEO of The Fellowship, Yael Eckstein oversees all ministry programs and serves as the international spokesperson. As a respected Jewish leader, speaker, bestselling author, and host of the Nourish Your Biblical Roots podcast, Yael continues the legacy of her father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein—to build bridges of faith between Christians and Jews globally. An award-winning humanitarian, Yael has been honored by multiple Jewish organizations and media outlets including The Algemeiner, The Jerusalem Post (5x Most Influential Jews honoree and 2023 Humanitarian of the Year), the Future of Jewish, and The Jaffa Institute. In 2025, Yael was named ‘Woman of the Year’ by The Jaffa Institute, and received the ‘Pillars of Jerusalem‘ award for her exceptional contributions to Israel’s public diplomacy.