433:
496:
In 2013 Freund learned of a large groups of Latin
Americans from Christian families who were converting to orthodox Judaism, thousands or tens of thousands of whom wanted to immigrate to Israel. Freund began working with Israeli authorities and with the Latin American converts, and the first, small
456:
In March 2005 Rabbi Shlomo Amar announced the recognition of the Bnei
Menashe by Israel and their possibility of immigration under the Law of Return. Those who wanted to immigrate were required to undergo a formal, full conversion as their people had been separated from Judaism for so long. In June
143:
people, and in the second decade of this century also became active in helping individuals and groups of converts become part of the mainstream Jewish and
Israeli communities. Shavei Israel sponsors rabbis and teachers to work with groups of "lost Jews," provide them the Jewish education and assist
516:
After suspending the issuance of visas to Bnei
Menashe for a few years, in January 2010 the Israeli government announced that the remaining 7,200 Bnei Menashe could make aliyah within a period of 1–2 years after completing conversion at facilities in Nepal. This allowed them to avoid problems with
508:
The mass conversion of Mizo-Kuki peoples aroused the concern of the Indian government, as it prohibits proselytizing. In
November 2005 Israel recalled the Rabbinic Court teams which had been preparing several hundred Bnei Menashe for conversion to calm the concerns of the
513:. At the time, some Hindu organisations complained that the government had paid more attention to the complaints of Christian missionaries working in India than to their own complaints about Jewish missionaries proselytising in traditionally Hindu communities.
396:
and follows goals similar to those of Shavei Israel. Several years after founding
Amishav, Avichail stepped aside as leader of the organisation in favour of Michael Freund, who went on to found Shavei Israel in 2002.
840:
210:
In
Jerusalem, it operates Machon Miriam, a Spanish-language "conversion and return institute." Dozens of Spanish and Portuguese crypto-Jews graduate from Machon Miriam each year, and undergo formal conversion by
452:
As part of its educational efforts, the organization has published a series of books on
Judaism in a dozen languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Mizo, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian and German.
425:
of India in being recognized as "descendants of Israel" by the
Israeli Chief Rabbi in March 2005. Shavei Israel assisted with teachers in India. As of 2024, a total of 5,000 Bnei Menashe have made
409:. It was while serving in this post that he first learned of the Bnei Menashe when a letter arrived from the Bnei Menashe community in India beseeching the Prime Minister to enable them to make
405:
Michael Freund, founder and director of Shavei Israel, was reared in
Manhattan and immigrated to Israel 1995. In 1996 he became deputy director of communications under Prime Minister
393:
545:
308:
615:
963:
933:
131:
The Shavei Israel organization was founded to help people whose ancestors had become separated from Judaism (including alleged descendants of the
717:
953:
204:
868:
948:
485:
364:
885:
689:
392:
is an organisation distinct from Shavei Israel, which it predates and to whose creation it contributed. It was founded in 1975 by
968:
303:
505:
Shavei has been criticised by some for its work to assist people seeking to undergo an Orthodox conversion to Judaism.
958:
429:
to Israel thanks to Shavei Israel. The organization assists immigrants with their integration into Israeli society.
803:
928:
357:
249:
663:
721:
313:
244:
212:
938:
350:
222:
104:
943:
254:
123:(immigration to Israel). The organization's team is composed of academics, educators and rabbis.
173:
462:
169:
132:
897:
742:
589:
865:
641:
476:
in November 2005. A total of 1,700 Bnei Menashe moved to Israel, mainly settlements in the
277:
826:
8:
756:"Bnei Menashe: Let us make aliyah and join 'our brothers and sisters' fighting in Israel"
526:
510:
298:
293:
139:, hidden Jews, and Jewish forcibly assimilated under Communist rule,) reconnect with the
406:
149:
791:
328:
193:
866:"For Portugal's crypto-Jews, new rabbi tries to blend tradition with local custom"
872:
260:
230:
76:
755:
119:
communities and assists them with returning to their roots and, sometimes, with
779:
601:
568:
469:
333:
136:
922:
100:
841:"Colombian evangelical Christians convert to Judaism, embracing hidden past"
461:
in Mizoram under the supervision of Israeli rabbis to start the process of
422:
338:
272:
92:
432:
323:
196:. In December 2010, Rabbi Shlomo Zelig Avrasin was sent to work with the
116:
481:
197:
477:
265:
153:
112:
177:
437:
157:
473:
445:
189:
185:
181:
165:
161:
88:
458:
426:
410:
200:
145:
140:
120:
96:
667:
441:
804:"India's lost tribe recognized as Jews after 2,700 years"
468:
Freund supported the resettlement of 218 Bnei Menashe in
413:. Freund is the largest single funder of Shavei Israel.
913:
546:
Michael Freund, "The Emergence of Turkey’s Hidden Jews"
457:
2005 the Bnei Menashe completed the construction of a
711:
709:
635:
633:
631:
148:
if they choose. Its affiliated rabbis are posted in
562:
560:
558:
829:, Israel National News; accessed 17 October 2014.
806:, Peter Foster, Telegraph.co.uk, 17 de 09 de 2005
706:
687:
628:
920:
497:group of converts moved to Israel in June 2015.
832:
827:"More than 200 Bnei Menashe arriving in Israel"
555:
358:
886:"UPA Government goes out to help conversion"
552:24 March 2011, at the Shavei Israel website
715:
639:
365:
351:
964:Jewish organizations established in 2002
900:, Arutz Sheva; accessed 17 October 2014.
898:"Members of Bnei Menashe to make aliyah"
743:"Members of Bnei Menashe to make aliyah"
566:
431:
416:
934:Religious organizations based in Israel
126:
91:organization that encourages people of
921:
838:
716:Mochkofsky, Graciela (28 April 2016).
567:Fishbane, Matthew (19 February 2015).
875:, Our Jerusalem.com, 13 October 2003.
681:
613:
592:, Ynetnews; accessed 17 October 2014.
954:Jewish organizations based in Israel
794:, BBC News, South Asia, 1 April 2005
203:communities in Russia, particularly
95:to strengthen their connection with
616:"Jewish Rebirth In Central America"
590:"Russia's Subbotnik Jews get rabbi"
304:Conversions of Jews to Christianity
80:
13:
14:
980:
907:
888:, Organiser.org, 15 January 2006.
839:Forero, Juan (24 November 2012).
640:Kestenbaum, Sam (28 April 2016).
400:
949:Jewish educational organizations
491:
16:Israel-based Jewish organization
891:
878:
858:
820:
809:
797:
792:Rabbi backs India's 'lost Jews'
785:
773:
748:
735:
421:The organization supported the
760:The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com
690:"Interview with Hillel Halkin"
664:"עמישב | למען נדחי ישראל"
656:
607:
595:
583:
539:
1:
969:2002 establishments in Israel
532:
500:
314:Conversion of Jewish orphans
7:
614:Lewis, Rhona (2018-12-17).
520:
309:Jewish counter-missionaries
176:in southern Italy, Brazil,
10:
985:
722:California Sunday Magazine
688:Linda Chhakchhuak (2006).
642:"The New Jewish Diaspora?"
382:
377:
85:Those who Return to Israel
58:
48:
40:
32:
24:
959:Hebrew words and phrases
745:, ynetnews.com, 01.08.10
213:Israel's Chief Rabbinate
604:, Shavei Israel website
449:
394:Rabbi Eliyahu Avichail
174:San Nicandro Garganico
172:in northern Portugal,
929:Conversion to Judaism
884:Surya Narain Saxena,
463:conversion to Judaism
435:
417:Bnei Menasha of India
250:Conservative outreach
133:Lost tribes of Israel
87:) is an Israel-based
278:Proactive conversion
127:Goals and objectives
550:The Jerusalem Post,
527:Gathering of Israel
299:Jewish assimilation
294:Apostasy in Judaism
21:
871:2007-09-27 at the
864:Jerome Socolovsky,
450:
407:Binyamin Netanyahu
184:in Poland; and in
19:
694:grassrootsoptions
571:. Tablet Magazine
511:Indian government
375:
374:
245:Orthodox outreach
150:Palma de Mallorca
68:
67:
44:Jerusalem, Israel
976:
901:
895:
889:
882:
876:
862:
856:
855:
853:
851:
836:
830:
824:
818:
813:
807:
801:
795:
789:
783:
777:
771:
770:
768:
767:
752:
746:
741:Itamar Eichner,
739:
733:
732:
730:
728:
713:
704:
703:
701:
700:
685:
679:
678:
676:
675:
666:. Archived from
660:
654:
653:
651:
649:
637:
626:
625:
623:
622:
611:
605:
599:
593:
587:
581:
580:
578:
576:
569:"Becoming Moses"
564:
553:
543:
436:Bnei Menashe in
367:
360:
353:
329:Reverse Marranos
266:Noahide campaign
218:
217:
194:North-East India
82:
22:
18:
984:
983:
979:
978:
977:
975:
974:
973:
939:Jewish outreach
919:
918:
910:
905:
904:
896:
892:
883:
879:
873:Wayback Machine
863:
859:
849:
847:
845:Washington Post
837:
833:
825:
821:
814:
810:
802:
798:
790:
786:
778:
774:
765:
763:
754:
753:
749:
740:
736:
726:
724:
714:
707:
698:
696:
686:
682:
673:
671:
662:
661:
657:
647:
645:
638:
629:
620:
618:
612:
608:
600:
596:
588:
584:
574:
572:
565:
556:
544:
540:
535:
523:
503:
494:
419:
403:
385:
380:
371:
269:
263:
261:Chabad outreach
255:Reform outreach
231:Jewish outreach
129:
61:
51:
17:
12:
11:
5:
982:
972:
971:
966:
961:
956:
951:
946:
944:Crypto-Judaism
941:
936:
931:
917:
916:
914:Shavei, Israel
909:
908:External links
906:
903:
902:
890:
877:
857:
831:
819:
816:Jerusalem Post
808:
796:
784:
772:
747:
734:
718:"The Faithful"
705:
680:
655:
627:
606:
594:
582:
554:
537:
536:
534:
531:
530:
529:
522:
519:
502:
499:
493:
490:
470:Upper Nazareth
418:
415:
402:
401:Michael Freund
399:
384:
381:
379:
376:
373:
372:
370:
369:
362:
355:
347:
344:
343:
342:
341:
336:
334:Crypto-Judaism
331:
326:
321:
316:
311:
306:
301:
296:
288:
287:
286:Related topics
283:
282:
281:
280:
275:
270:
259:
257:
252:
247:
239:
238:
234:
233:
227:
226:
128:
125:
105:Michael Freund
93:Jewish descent
66:
65:
64:Michael Freund
62:
59:
56:
55:
52:
50:Region served
49:
46:
45:
42:
38:
37:
34:
30:
29:
26:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
981:
970:
967:
965:
962:
960:
957:
955:
952:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
935:
932:
930:
927:
926:
924:
915:
912:
911:
899:
894:
887:
881:
874:
870:
867:
861:
846:
842:
835:
828:
823:
817:
812:
805:
800:
793:
788:
782:, Shavei.org.
781:
776:
761:
757:
751:
744:
738:
723:
719:
712:
710:
695:
691:
684:
670:on 2016-02-02
669:
665:
659:
644:. The Forward
643:
636:
634:
632:
617:
610:
603:
602:Machon Miriam
598:
591:
586:
570:
563:
561:
559:
551:
547:
542:
538:
528:
525:
524:
518:
514:
512:
506:
498:
492:Latin America
489:
487:
486:disengagement
483:
479:
475:
471:
466:
464:
460:
454:
447:
443:
439:
434:
430:
428:
424:
414:
412:
408:
398:
395:
391:
390:
368:
363:
361:
356:
354:
349:
348:
346:
345:
340:
337:
335:
332:
330:
327:
325:
322:
320:
319:Shavei Israel
317:
315:
312:
310:
307:
305:
302:
300:
297:
295:
292:
291:
290:
289:
285:
284:
279:
276:
274:
271:
267:
262:
258:
256:
253:
251:
248:
246:
243:
242:
241:
240:
236:
235:
232:
229:
228:
224:
220:
219:
216:
214:
208:
206:
202:
199:
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
175:
171:
167:
163:
159:
155:
151:
147:
142:
138:
134:
124:
122:
118:
117:hidden Jewish
114:
110:
109:Shavei Israel
106:
103:. Founded by
102:
101:Jewish people
98:
94:
90:
86:
78:
74:
73:
72:Shavei Israel
63:
57:
53:
47:
43:
39:
35:
31:
27:
23:
20:Shavei Israel
893:
880:
860:
848:. Retrieved
844:
834:
822:
815:
811:
799:
787:
775:
764:. Retrieved
762:. 2024-01-20
759:
750:
737:
725:. Retrieved
697:. Retrieved
693:
683:
672:. Retrieved
668:the original
658:
646:. Retrieved
619:. Retrieved
609:
597:
585:
573:. Retrieved
549:
541:
515:
507:
504:
495:
467:
455:
451:
423:Bnei Menashe
420:
404:
388:
387:
386:
339:Zera Yisrael
318:
273:Baal teshuva
209:
130:
108:
84:
71:
70:
69:
41:Headquarters
33:Legal status
484:(until the
324:Judaization
237:Core topics
137:crypto-Jews
923:Categories
780:Book Store
766:2024-09-23
699:2007-03-03
674:2022-07-17
621:2024-09-23
533:References
488:in 2005).
482:Gaza Strip
168:in Spain;
36:Foundation
501:Criticism
478:West Bank
448:, Israel.
198:Subbotnik
154:Barcelona
113:lost Jews
107:in 2002,
81:שבי ישראל
54:Worldwide
25:Formation
869:Archived
521:See also
438:Adloyada
223:a series
221:Part of
170:Belmonte
158:Valencia
144:them in
111:locates
99:and the
60:Chairman
517:India.
474:Karmiel
446:Carmiel
389:Amishav
383:Amishav
378:History
190:Manipur
186:Mizoram
182:Wroclaw
166:Seville
162:Granada
459:mikvah
427:aliyah
411:aliyah
205:Vysoky
201:Jewish
178:Kraków
164:, and
146:aliyah
141:Jewish
121:aliyah
97:Israel
89:Jewish
77:Hebrew
850:2 May
727:2 May
648:2 May
575:2 May
442:Purim
852:2016
729:2016
650:2016
577:2016
480:and
472:and
188:and
180:and
115:and
28:2002
465:.
444:in
440:of
215:.
192:in
925::
843:.
758:.
720:.
708:^
692:.
630:^
557:^
548:,
225:on
207:.
160:,
156:,
152:,
135:,
83:,
79::
854:.
769:.
731:.
702:.
677:.
652:.
624:.
579:.
366:e
359:t
352:v
268:)
264:(
75:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.