"Kathang’Kathang’e! Extolled, Extolled am I”
Yesterday, the B’nei Menashe photography exhibition was inaugurated at the grand library hall of the University of Haifa, offering visitors a poignant glimpse into the heritage, traditions, and everyday lives of the B’nei Menashe community in the remote corner of north east India.
The exhibition features a captivating collection of photographs by renowned photographer Dorit Lombroso. Rich in cultural detail and emotional depth, her images capture the essence of a community whose journey bridges two homelands-India, its ancestral land, and Israel, its spiritual and national homeland. Each photograph tells a story of identity, belonging, and the enduring connection between generations.
Dedicated to the memory of two fallen B’nei Menashe soldiers, Gary Zolat and Gary Hanghal, the exhibition carries a particularly profound significance. It honors their sacrifice while celebrating the heritage, courage, and resilience of the community to which they belonged.
A Conversation on Identity, Heritage and Belonging
The inauguration featured a panel discussion with Dorit Lombroso, the photographer behind the exhibition, Gideon Eliezer, an anthropologist and faculty member at Bar-Ilan University and Jessica Thangjom, Community Coordinator at Degel Menashe.
The discussion was moderated by Professor Ornit Shani of the Department of Asian Studies at the University of Haifa. Through thoughtful questions, she invited the panellists to share their experiences and perspectives on the project, exploring the cultural, historical, and personal dimensions of the B’nei Menashe story. While Dorit Lombroso and Gideon Eliezer reflected on their involvement in documenting and understanding the community, Jessica Thangjom spoke about the lives of the B’nei Menashe in India, the transition of Aliyah to Israel, and the challenges of cultural adaptation and heritage preservation. Her contribution highlighted the delicate balance between integrating into Israeli society and maintaining the traditions, values, and cultural identity that have shaped the community across generations.
Photography as a Bridge Between Communities
When asked about the exhibition and her participation in the panel, Jessica expressed her appreciation for
Dorit Lombroso’s work and its importance in fostering greater understanding between communities. “Dorit is, in many ways, an ambassador for the B’nei Menashe. Through her photographs, she is helping to bridge the gap between Israeli society and our community, allowing people to see our lives, our traditions, and our heritage through a different lens,” Jessica remarked.
She also expressed feeling honoured and humbled to represent her community at the event, emphasising that the exhibition marks an important beginning rather than a final achievement. “This is just the beginning. We still have a long way to go. There is so much more to be done, and we hope to contribute meaningfully to the younger generations, ensuring that they understand, appreciate, and carry forward the heritage of our people,” she added.
Her words sent a central message of the exhibition: preserving cultural heritage is not simply about remembering the past; it is about giving future generations the knowledge and confidence to understand who they are and where they come from.
Preserving Heritage Through Literature and Oral History
In another encouraging development, the University of Haifa Library will add two important publications to its collection: Across the Shabbat River and Lives of the Children of Manasia, a comprehensive look at the community and an oral history book by Hillel Halkin and Isaac Thangjom. These works offer valuable perspectives on the history, experiences, and cultural identity of the B’nei Menashe. Their inclusion in the university library represents a meaningful step towards preserving the community’s collective memory and making its story accessible to students, researchers, and future generations.
Together, the photographic exhibition and these literary works create complementary ways of documenting and sharing the B’nei Menashe experience. While photographs bring everyday life, traditions, and people into view, literature and oral history preserve personal narratives, historical experiences, and the voices of the community itself. This initiative is particularly significant at a time when younger generations are navigating life between ancestral traditions and their evolving identities in Israel. Ensuring that their history remains documented, accessible, and understood is essential to keeping their heritage alive.
Preserving a Living Heritage
For the B’nei Menashe, the journey to Israel represents more than geographical relocation. It is also a journey of cultural transformation, adaptation, and continuity. As families establish new lives in Israel, preserving their ancestral traditions and sharing their history with wider Israeli society become increasingly important.
Exhibitions such as this provide a meaningful platform for cultural exchange, encouraging dialogue, challenging misconceptions, and deepening appreciation for the rich diversity within Israeli society. Through photography, literature, oral history, and personal experiences, the B’nei Menashe narrative becomes more visible and accessible to a wider audience. This exhibition is on a a permanent display at the ANU Museum in Tel Aviv. Our readers are encouraged to visit to learn more about the B'nei Menashe.
The exhibition at the University of Haifa is therefore more than a collection of photographs. It is a celebration of identity, a tribute to sacrifice, and an invitation to understand a community whose story continues to unfold between India and Israel.
