[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]
The Bnei Menashe community throughout the remote northeastern Indian state of Manipur last week began preparing for Pesach – including by baking matzah at the Shavei Israel Hebrew Center in Churachandpur.
“The experience of seeing the entire community kneading, rolling, and then baking the dough – all as the timer calls out the minutes – is amazing,” said Ohaliav Haokip, 31, of Churachandpur. “Everyone present can feel the pressure of baking the matzah in time – it’s reminiscent of Biblical times, and our forefathers’ hurrying to flee Egypt. I especially loved seeing the children lending helping hands regardless of their skill levels. I hope for a very special Seder this year – and next year in Jerusalem!”
The Bnei Menashe claim that they are descendants of the tribe of Menashe.
So far, some 3,000 Bnei Menashe have made Aliyah, including more than 1,100 in the past four years and an additional 102 who arrived in Israel from Mizoram, India, in February. Some 7,000 Bnei Menashe remain in India waiting for the chance to return home to Israel.
“Passover symbolizes the Jewish people’s deliverance and it is a festival that resonates deeply for the Bnei Menashe,” said Shavei Israel Founder and Chairman Michael Freund. “In the far-flung regions of northeastern India, thousands of Bnei Menashe will sit down on Passover eve to conduct the traditional Seder, which embodies the hope they have been nurturing for generations: to make Aliyah and return to the land of their ancestors, the Land of Israel.”
“Over the past four years, we have brought over 1,200 Bnei Menashe to Israel,” Freund said. “We hope that after 27 centuries of exile, the remaining 7,000 Bnei Menashe still in India will be able to celebrate Pesach next year in Jerusalem.”
Down through the generations and into the last century, the Bnei Menashe continued to practice Biblical Judaism and marked Passover with a number of rituals, which included the removal of any bread from their homes and refraining from its consumption during the holiday as well as offering the Passover sacrifice. In addition, each village priest would recite a series of ancient prayers, such as “Miriam’s Song,” which echoed the Biblical account of the Exodus and its aftermath, describing how their ancestors – the Bnei Menashe – were redeemed from slavery in Egypt, crossed the Red Sea and were guided by a pillar of fire and clouds of glory until they reached Israel.
Photos: members of the Bnei Menashe community preparing matzah for Pesach at the Shavei Israel Hebrew Center in Churachandpur, India.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Shavei Israel)
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One Response
Did someone teach them how to make matzoh like this, or is this their own tradition? Among Ashkenazi Jews the matzos evolved over the years from thick to thin, and these people are making modern day thin matzos, but with rather unusual practices, such as working on the floor, and with flour all over the place.