Black Box / A passage from India
The authenticity of the Bnei Menashe's descent from the Biblical tribe is comparable to mine from Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, or from Snow White's Seven Dwarfs.
By Benny ZifferThe tired and confused group of new-immigrant families from India were shown on the Tuesday evening news arriving at Ben-Gurion Airport, waving Israeli flags and singing "Heveinu Shalom Aleichem." The authenticity of their descent from the Biblical tribe of Menasseh is comparable to mine from Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, or from Snow White's Seven Dwarfs.
It transpires that this fantasy of a newly-discovered Jewish diaspora, lost for 2,700 years, is being realized by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, an organization with a Jewish proselytizing whiff about it. Its representatives, with their strongly American-accented Hebrew, appeared all week on television, with the scary smiles of fanatics with whom no discussion of their religion is possible.
But apart from a few snide comments by Yaron London and Raviv Drucker on the Monday television program "London and Kirschenbaum" (Channel 10, 19.00), I did not hear many other reservations about this exercise in scraping the bottom of the barrel of the Zionist Idea. Quite the contrary. What people should have paid attention to on Tuesday's newscasts was the firmness with which the various TV correspondents told of what occurred 2,700 years ago (according to Channel 2) or 2,500 years ago (according to Channel 10), when Bnei Menashe ("the Children of Menasseh") were "cut off" from the nation of Israel.
How were they cut off - if indeed they were at all? The television story left the impression that they were cut off because they simply didn't pay their bills for 2,500 years, and now they have been reconnected to the Jewish cable network.
How can any intelligent person accept this fable without even blinking? When these Bnei Menashe broke into a Hassidic dance - in the film shot back in their home in India, and shown on the same Tuesday newscasts as "proof" of their Jewish identity - it was obvious that they had only recently learned the dance, and that it was not the biblical Menasseh, son of Joseph, who had taught it to them.
So what does in fact prove that they are real Jews? Perhaps the tear shed in front of the camera by one of the girls in the group, which she then wiped away with a tissue. It recalls the Biblical verse: "Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears." Not only is the talent for weeping typically Jewish, but it already prepares the girl for her first demonstration, which will undoubtedly take place in front of the Knesset in the not-too-distant future, with the Bnei Menashe waving posters along the lines of "You have forgotten us!" and "No work, no money," and bitterly crying out against the National Insurance Institute. At the same time - and sooner than we think - those American accents that brought in the Bnei Menashe this week will be busy locating the descendents of the tribe of Naftali or Issachar in Alaska.
Sderot, city of artistes
Sderot is a town that has already produced a good number of talented artists, as talk-show host Yair Lapid reminded us this week in a program (Channel 10, Monday, 21.45) that was devoted - according to the rules of national solidarity - to two successful citizens of Sderot. One was the manly mayor, Eli Moyal; the other the beautiful Miri Bohadana, who is currently with child. (Last week, you will recall, Lapid interviewed another well-known Sderot artist: Amir Peretz.)
It seems that Sderot is a place in which people are increasingly proud to live. And more: Those who left it in the past are coming back to what they regard as their heart's desire. For this, to our deep regret, we have to thank the Qassam rocket launchers from the Gaza Strip - and, even more, the billionnaire Arcadi Gaydamak, who extended his patronage to the residents of the town, who were falling apart under the inflictions of the Qassams.
It is interesting that ever since Sderot became the "in-place," and its citizens realized that they possessed an asset called "to be from Sderot," it seems that every child in the town has learned to speak to the television cameras openly and with perfect proficiency. Like the little girl, with a mouth still full of milk-teeth, who declared with a flair beyond her years that "it's not right that they didn't let us on the bus. We've been waiting since Wednesday. We also want to go to Eilat." And all this with a forlorn face, as a true artiste would put on. That was on Sunday's "Mabat" news program (Channel 1, 21.00). In the background was the not-so-cultured and alarming scene of shoving to board the buses provided by the latter-day well-known Benefactor, Gaydamak.
And in the same newscast, another girl (who did not stop chewing gum while speaking to the nation on the official television channel) talked about the fun she was having in Eilat, thanks to Gaydamak. This gum-chewer, bussed down to Eilat to get away from the Qassams, is an indication of the degree to which Sderot has become the undisputed arbiter of national taste and culture in this country. In my day, let me remind you, girls like that would have been thrown out of class with a note to their parents. Today they are TV starlets.
Mockery of the homosexual idea
Zvulun Orlev, head of the National Religious Party, in conversation with London and Kirschenbaum (Channel 10, Tuesday, 19.00), contended that recognition of same-sex marriage in Israel meant the demise of the idea of the Jewish state. To some extent, even without being religious, I could understand him; because I think that the recognition by the Israeli Supreme Court of the registration of same-sex marriages (which was made public that same day) is to a great extent a kind of mockery of the homosexual idea.
The mockery lies in the fact that it makes something out of the institution of marriage, while the world has known for a long time that marriage is no guarantee of happiness - or anything else, for that matter. A homosexual marriage ceremony can be just as kitschy, superfluous, sham and insincere as a straight one.
Background shots shown during the discussion with Orlev presented homosexuals as strange creatures: elderly male couples, some of them physically repulsive, kissing passionately at their wedding; or a male couple proudly wiggling their buttocks as they emerged from the registry office; or the marriage ceremony of two fat women, and so on. That was enough. The pictures were intended to be the rebellious counterweight to Orlev's solemn, responsible Jewish sermon, but they will be the images that will be left on viewers' retinas as the embodiment of bizarre homosexual life.
There is nothing more distorted and stereotypical than that. Gays are Jews like other Jews, people like other people, who look no different and dress no differently, who serve in the Israeli army and even die in wars and terrorist attacks like others. As long as they are represented on television as examples of some exotic breed, no Supreme Court ruling will help the recognition of their right to normal life like everyone else.
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You write "Holy Koran promised death and destruction for Jews" How can God who is believed to be most merciful & most compassionate bring destrution of Jews or non Jews. In India the Muslim converts are unable to integrate with mainstream Hindus,they stake false claims of ancient Hindu temples as they do so for temple mount. War torn land of Israel is the last place on earth for economic settlers.Finally wisdom of God cant be ridiculed, all things come to pass at His appointed time.
From the self righteous arrogant tone of the writer, I understand he not only wants a veto on the Jewishness of non-white converts but also has a major issue with American Jews. Being one and living in Israel for 26 years I can attest to the fact that i hav a real problem with lots of Sabra Zifferim. They think Israel is their exclusive heritage and look down upon "Jews" who are two generations later than them in arriving, though without the support of those "Jews" in the USA the Zifferim would have left a long time ago since their standards of living would not have met their materialist needs. Thank G-d that they do not control the immigration policy of this country but his right to print his drivel and hate is part of what makes this a great country.
I keep reading these nasty articles in Haaretz, so far this is the third. I don't understand the venom directed at the Bnei Menashe simply ecause they want to be Jews. There is no such thing as a "pure race" - our ancestors were not a pure race from the beginning. All groups have myths about being descended from someone like the myth of Arabs being descended from Abraham. The point is that these people want to be Jews. They convert and that's the end of the story. So what's the problem? Mr Ziffer should examine his motives & be more transparent about them. I doubt if he told his true motives, they would be very nice.
I read with absolute shock and disgust the article entitled "Black Box / A passage from India" by Benny Ziffer. Ziffer does not apepar to have researched the claims of the Bnei Menasheh, and has apparently drawn conclusions from his research notes taken from a TV broadcast. In fact prior to about 100 years ago when Christian missionaries converted the majority of the Bnei Menasheh most of their community lived a form of biblical Judaism, not unlike the Ethiopians. Sadly that level of observance is more than most Israelis can attest to. Although there remains significant doubt about the origins of the Bnei Menasheh, all of them go through a full Orthodox conversion to Judaism before making Aliya. At the very least they are willing and proud converts, which by itself is a major achievement. Perhaps indeed decendants of Jews lost long ago. All of Israel should take pride in them, and Mr Ziffer should consider expanding his research beyond the back of his breakfast cereal box.
Jews make false claim of Promised Land all the times, first of all everyone should understand that God cant be so biased to promised land at the expense of others. Secondly if God Promised Land to Jews who did reminded him about his promised only in 1948? If God Promised Land to Jews then why he didn?t made a smooth transfer to Jews, why Jews are still struggling to hold the Promised Land? Meanwhile the Koran the holy Muslim book says God has promised death and destruction to Jews and it can be proven from the fact that Jews suffered more than any other population. At second world war they even reached a point of total elimination. So stop your false claim to Palestinian land.
Mr. Ziffer, if you don't believe B'nei Menashe are your cousins, might I recommend that you go to Mizoram and Manipur and try to convince them yourself. After reading your article, I cannot think of anyone better suited than you to convince people that they should not come to Israel.
If you walk around Jerusalem you will see Jews who look like Arabs, and Jews who are easily recognised as of Eastern European decent although they dress as the most recognisable of Orthodox Jews - with pale skins and myopic eyes. Modern youngsters with blonde hair and blue eyes are easily recognisable as newly immigrated from Russia - whether truly Jewish or not. By absolute contrast are the Ethiopian Jews who are obviously of African geneology, whether Jewish or not. And now Indian blood will join the cosmopolitan Jewish community in Israel. No wonder Israel has to stick to the 'Inheritance' theory in order to make a claim to Palestine. Look around the rest of the Middle East - Arabs who have continued their ancestral line without having left or watered down their gene pool. Conversion is as much a part of the Jewish faith as any other and weakens any claim that Judaism to be a race not just a religion.
Great going, Haaretz. Now third rate sarcasm is all it takes to get a column? Put-down artistry like this is the last refuge of the truly untalented.
Not a racist clown; just making the point that these people, so-called Benai Menashe, have been manipulated by non-immigrant, relgious fanatics, some of whom believe Mendel Menahem Schneerson was the messiah. Those people have too much to say in our society, especially since they aren't part of it and just want to dictate their will. Schneerson, one might remember, never came to Israel-let him rest in peace in Brooklyn, where the aberrant, almost Judaism sect belongs.
Genetic testing is pointless, it doesn't provide the conclusiveness you think. In fact, genetic analysis can scarcely - if at all - differentiate a Jew from a Palestinian Arab, for example. It has also shown that many ethnic Jews with long, established family histories for hundreds of years appear to have no Middle Eastern ties whatsoever. Inconclusive.
Whether they can or can't trace their lineage back to the lost tribes, the bottom line is that they are members of the nation of Israel. In any case, a person who converts (like King David's own ancestor, Ruth the Moabite) is a member of the nation just as anyone else. Only an ignoramous doesn't know this- or accept it. In fact, the only people I have ever met who don't understand that someone can join the nation of israel- and be like anyone else, are the non-religious Jews. Where I live there are converts and they are fine people; fine Jews- married to Jews with nice Jewish children. The biggest difference between the Bnei Menashe and Ziffer is that they actually observe our Torah. They know how to be Jews.
Brillaint! Bravo Benny Ziffer. I could not agree more. Across the world, Israel has too many allies nowadays. Delegitimizing, dividing and rejecting Jews the the best thing that we as a people can do today in the face of the terrorist threat. !D
The reason why the Ethiopians are rejected by Israeli society is not because of their lack of a Jewish connection. An Ethiopian living in Israel might have a lot more of a Jewish connection than the afore-mentioned white NY bar trotting youngsters that just happen to "LOOK" Jewish. And guess what, if those white youngsters happen to board a plane and come to Israel next week, they might be more accepted into Israeli society than an Ethiopian person that was born in Israel, keeps all the Jewish laws and contributes to Israeli society. All of this because people like you have pre-conceived notions of what a "Jewish look" is and are not willing to look past your narrow-mindedness to accept that Jews come in all colors. This is called racism. Same story with Ashkenazim and Sephardim / Mizrahim. Jews from a Muslim country? Forget about it, they're not real Jews. Jews with dark skin? Also impossible. Jews like you are a shame to all of us.
Typical arrogance of the ruling clique of Israel. I am an immigrant to Israel, but I am not an "real Israeli", unlike Lithuanian immigrant Shimon Peres or Moroccan immigrant Amir Peretz or Persian immigrant Moshe Katsav, according to the clown who wrote this racist piece. He has no problem brining Russian immigrants who have 1 Jewish grandparent out of 4 and no Jewish identity at all, but these people who maintainted at least a limited Jewish identity for thousands of years (and who happen to be non-white) he has no use for. Israel belongs to the Jewish people, not the arrogant post-clique of which this writer is a part.
Tom, first of all, if Bnei Menashe wanted to immediately improve their economic status, they would convert to Christianity rather than Judaism. There are plenty of Christian missionaries in various remote areas of India, whose sole purpose it to "spread the word" to those that are "not yet" practicing Christianity. And they make sure to take care of their new converts, with financial assistance and otherwise. So it's a lot easier for someone in India to convert to Christianity in search of a better future, than to Judaism, which a lot of people in India haven't even heard about. And yet, these people chose to "convert" to Judaism -- perhaps because of the Jewish neshamah that you're referring to, and which you unashamedly state that they don't have.
Ziffer has a point when he talks of the difficulties that the B'nei Menashe will have on entering Israel. I hope we will give them the same support integrating into Israel as we did getting them to Israel. Are they economic immigrants? Doubt it. That was the accusation of the Ethiopians, and yet they are amongst the most partiotic, genuinely religious, genuinely Zionist sector of Israeli society. Yes, some of them showed themselves to be Christian when they entered Israel, but that is the minority. If they were just economic immigrants, then they would be like the Christian Arabs who collect their paychecks, then work assiduously against the state as aparatchiks for Balad or Hadash.
Can any of us trace ourselves back to a particular tribe, aside from the levites and bnei menashe? how can we deny their judaism when they have so much more of a clear lineage than any of us sephardi or ashkenazi jews? do we think they're lying to get out of India into the land of milk and honey? well, did we lie?
If we know for fact that all middle east based religions failed to recognize the existence of any life beyond the middle east boundaries, how on earth we know that these people got lost 2500 years ago. Wonder why Jasus or Mohammed did not got the word of God about people living in india or North America. Is there a human intelligence beyond building destructive weapons and killing each other.
The Ethiopians and these Bne Menasse have no Jewish connection at all! They are only economic immigrants! To convert these people Orthodox will not make them Jews at all! There is the idea of a Jewish neshamah for a sincere and true convert. How can these economic immigrants have a Jewish neshamah when their connection to Jews is invented from scratch only for economic reasons? The American Jews are not willing to make aliyah. Therefore, Michael Freund and his gang decided to find any group on earth who would be willing to make aliyah in Israel! To teach these Bne Menasse and the Ethopians Jewish practices and some Jewish history do not make them descendants of a lost tribe! Even Shlomo Amar, the Chief Rabbi, sold this lie to the Israelis when the Ethopians came! WE ARE SICK OF YOUR LOST TRIBES, MICHAEL FREUND! The Ethiopians have already been rejected by the Israelis (for good reasons: invented link to the Jewish people) and the same will apply to these Bne Menasse.
Question: What is Benny's litmus test for Israeli citizenship or entry into Judaism?... Perhaps those Jewish souls from India should submit their blood for DNA anaylsis by the Ministry of Health. This type of arrogence smacks of racism.
which has close connections to the Burmese. The 1000 or so Mizo who have immigrated to Israel came on the basis of the fact that they converted to Judaism, not that they are a lost tribe.
I guess this Benny is an Ashkenaz-ift, given that all his hatred is directed toward people with dark skin- whether from India or Sderot.Apparently he loves gays though, so he must be a great guy. At least these Indians are practising Judaism, which after all is the only real point of Israel. Why doesnt Benny leave Israel for real Jews, not fake ones like himself.
That these people were willing to convert seems to be enough to me. I think it is ridiculous to demand that these people are legitimately Jewish. If they were coming and becoming practicing Christians, or whatever they would revert to, that would be another matter entirely, but it doesn't seem like they are. The bottom line is, we don't spend excruciatingly long periods of time checking how authentic people's heritages are-- look at our definition of 'Palestinian'-- but instead take them for what they want to be. In this case, the Bnai Menashe have chosen to be Jews, and we should welcome them.
Israel is being suckered by people who want to escape their poverty. How about doing some DNA tests to verify that there is sort of a possible relationship to Jewish ethnicity, which I doubt. May I suggest that the search for Jewish Ancestory be moved to the Iberian peninsula where untold numbers of Jews were forced to convert.
Anyone crazy enough to declare themselves Jewish and emigrate to Israel on the Eve of Destruction. Bnei Menache are more Jewish than the millions of kippah-wearing, talmud-toting Ashkenazim sitting it out in London and New York. What's the matter, Benny. Not white enough for you.
1)ISRAEL NEEDS MANPOWER 2)THE BNEI MENASSE CAN BE MORE PRODUCTIVE ON THE LAND,THAN ANY CHEST BEATING IDIOT LIVING ABROAD... 3)THE INQUISITION HAD A TRIBUNAL IN GOA,INDIA,IN THE EARLY 1500...IF OUR ENEMIES REGARDED THOSE INDIAN PEOPLES AS JEWS,WE CAN ALSO ACCEPT THEM AS BROTHERS....AND THEY HAD SINAGOGUES AND THE WHOLE JEWISH "SET-UP" FOR MANY CENTURIES... 4)APART FROM THOSE INDIAN JEWS,THERE ARE AT LEAST 200MILLION JEWS DECENDENTS FROM THE "ANUSSIM",THAT WE NEED TO CALL BACK INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF THE PEOPLE...
Ness : Don't give jerks like Ziffer much thought - too depressing. Just be glad these wonderful people are finally in Israel
This section of the article on Bnei Menashe is filled with nothing but negativity. Ziffer ironically decries the Bnei Menashe's claim to connection to the Jewish people but offers no proof himself to the contrary. Why should the burden be on the Bnei Menashe to prove their Jewishness and not on Ziffer to disprove it? Why cynicism and nastiness, instead of enthusiasm for a people for whom the Zionist dream is still an inspiration? If these people want to stake their claim with the Jewish people, does it matter if their Jewish roots go back 5 generations or 50?
Benny, what makes you so bitter??? G-d loves you and that's all you need.
Benny Ziffer is very ignorant. I believe Bene Menashe are for real. What Benny does not understand is this. Even if they were not, they are converted to Judaism and as such they are Yehudim.
anyone van be jewish according to adopting Abraham as our father and adhering to Moses Laws. These peopel are more Jewish than the bar trotting types on Yom Kippur in Tel aviv or the coffee drinkers on Sheinkin whose "other" israelis were fighhting in Lebanon
The descendants of Jacob are rightly called Israelites. For the most part "Jew" is a dirty word in the Bible referring to the misleaders of Judah (Yehuda) who allowed the kingdom to split, be overrun and then be liquidated. That most of our leadership still clings to this self-loathing word is testimony to the lack of development of "Jewry" in 2400 years. The "Gathering" of the other Ten Tribes should begin in earnest now. As might be expected, many of them will be found among the children of the soldiers who liberated the "Jews" in the 20th Century. Being a Jew is neither a racial nor a religious matter. The right word is Israelite, and is determined on the father's line, as in Jacob. "Call my people Israel," signed God with permission. JJI, 112506.