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Rosh HaShana 5785: A Year in Perspective

Updated: 3 days ago


Rosh HaShana by Nina Ginsburg.

(October 2, 2024, Rosh HaShana Eve) It'd be an understatement to say that the last one year, encompassing 5784 in the Hebrew calendar, has been an eventful one. Israel faced a treacherous attack by Hamas beginning 7th Oct '24 while on the other side of the world, the B'nei Menashe were a default victims of an ethnic cleansing by the fascist Meitei majority in state of Manipur in India's north east. Needless to say, both were as despicable as it gets and are existential threats to people that have been provoked and forced to stand to defend themselves. In Israel, in the past year Hezbollah has fired several rockets in solidarity with Hamas forcing over 60,000 people living in the north to evacuate and similarly, over 60,000 people have been displaced on the other side. The world opinion is overwhelmingly against Israel for successfully being able to defend itself from Hamas and Hezbollah. It is a question in itself that how many Jews will have to die till it gains world sympathy.

A B'nei Menashe soldier in Gaza.

The B'nei Menashe stands proudly with Israel and we have sent our boys and girls to serve in the IDF. A few have been injured in combat and that there had been one fatality. Meanwhile in Manipur, the state machinery is openly siding with the perpetrators by supplying weaponry to radical Meitei groups like the Arambai Tenggol. It is no secret that Manipur state police joins these radicals in their raids on Kuki villages on the foothills. The conflict began a year and a half ago by branding Kukis as illegal immigrants, poppy cultivators and narco-terrorists. The chief minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh has openly expedited it and is the architect of this carnage that has engulfed the state. But the irony is that the biggest drug cartel, the Itoucha Drug Syndicate is Meitei and former police officer, Brinda Thounoujam, an ethnic Meitei herself, has accused Biren as the biggest drug-lord in Manipur along with his second wife, Olish. A simple Google or YouTube search will yield several articles and videos. All these things boils down to one thing only: the Meiteis covet the lands Kukis live in. They have failed miserably in their

Manipur on fire since the last one and a half year. File photo

quest to rid the Kukis from their lands. The false narratives by the Meiteis keep changing to fuel their despicable ambitions. They have, recently, blamed a 'foreign hand' (when all previous narratives gained no traction) for their dismal failures including the false story about '900 Kuki militants' entering Manipur and an imminent attack on the Meiteis. They even gave a date, 28th September 2024 which turned out to be false. They are right, there is a foreign hand; it is the Meitei secessionist groups like UNLF, PLA, KYKL, PREPAK who have entered India to assist the Arambai Tenggol and the Manipur Police to attack the Kukis. Degel Menashe came into existence when covid arose, depriving

B'nei Menashe receives aid at Maoz Tzur.

several of their livelihood during early 2020s. Over 70 tons of food were distributed in the erstwhile state of Manipur over a period of a year and a half. The Rabbi Eliyahu Hebrew came into existence till it was turned into a home for displaced when the ethnic cleansing of the Kukis began on the aftermath of violence that followed 3rd May. Ever since the conflict began, Degel Menashe has consistently provided food assistance to the displaced that continues to this day. Not only food but clothing,  hygiene products and just about anything a person needs. This was necessary since most fled their homes with just the 'shirt on their back'. Such was the speed and ferocity of the attacks by the Meiteis no one had the time to collect anything they might need. Several spent many days in the jungle being hunted by Meiteis till they found shelters in military camps and eventually making their way to safer places in Kuki inhabited areas in the hills. Scholarships have been distributed to young B'nei Menashe seeking higher education since early 2020. The fifth one for 2024-25 is on the spanner. Forms will be made available very soon and the distribution is planned for December 2024. The exact date will be determined when all applications have been received. So far, close to a hundred students have benefitted from this program with close to half having completed their course or graduated. Degel Menashe even sponsored trips for volunteers to provide a helping hands to Israeli farms whose foreign workers had fled since Hamas's attack.


But the icing on the Degel Menashe cake has been the establishment of Kibbutz Maoz Tzur in Lamka. A 200

A farm at Maoz Tzur.

acre land has been made available by the chairman of BMC(I) Lalam Hangshing on a land owned by him. It houses mainly the displaced who fled the war since last May. Work began last Succot with 4 families, which now has almost 20 families and a headcount of almost a hundred. Degel Menashe still provides for food grains but in terms of vegetables and similar things, they are quite self sufficient. The residents have begun small scale farming for their needs. It is hoped that this will turn into a self sufficient cooperative agricultural community in the near future. Funds are being raised for it. A synagogue was erected and completed a few months ago, despite its modest size, the little community has a full fledged minyan. The community is led by elders Reuven Haokip and Yitzhak Touthang along with a young religious leader, Shimon Thomsong. There are ambitions of reviving the Rabbi Eliyahu Avichayil Hebrew School at Maoz Tzur but it will depend on how much funds that can be raised. Along with it, improving the road and water supply is on the cards. 


In the end, we'd like to thank our donors and long time supporters in enabling us to continue on this noble yet challenging mission. Degel Menashe would like to thank Sabra Minkus, Mimi Efroymson, Meghna Godbole, Operation Exodus and countless many others. 


Last night, as this article was going to be published, Iran unleashed a barrage of 181 ballistic missiles. It was an attack with serious intent but did not cause any significant damage or loss thanks to the IDF's well executed defense as well as its preparedness.


Shana Tova, with hope that 5785 will be a better year for all Israel!


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