A Joyous B'nei Menashe Wedding at Lamka

Wedding dais at Geljang Lake Resorts, Lamka.

(March 14, 2025) Two days ago on 12th March 2025 (12 Adar, 5785), an event took place in the tiny B'nei Menashe community in India's remote north east that was a cause for excitement and will be remembered for a long time; Dr. Josiah Mate's wedding with Dr. Naomi Tungnung. The ceremony was conducted at Geljang resort overlooking the beautiful lake that bears the same name. Guests numbering several hundreds flocked together to witness this special occasion. Josiah, 32, the second child of Hezekiah and Chingpi Mate, is serving the state government as Medical Officer (M.O) whose exam he had cleared earlier in 2023 (Our newsletter had done a write-up about him: https://www.degelmenashe.org/post/a-b-nei-menashe-doctor-gets-prestigious-posting). He has two sisters, one older and another younger. The family is a member and attends the Beit Shalom Synagogue, Vengnuom, Lamka.

Kibbutz Ma'oz Tzur members present gifts to the newly-wed couple.

Our newsletter caught up with Dr. Mate, post-wedding and posed a few questions for him. He is Lamka born and bred, attended St. Mary's School and the Ray Burn junior college. After which he sat for a national level medical college entrance examinations. He was declared successful and gained a seat at the prestigious Regional Institute of Medical Sciences at Ranchi, capital of Jharkand (a state in India). He graduated in 2017 and proceeded with his internship and residence. He wanted to pursue his specialization but that was put on hold because of exigencies arising out of the covid crisis. Despite his disappointment, a year later, when it subsided, he sat for Manipur Health Services competitive examinations securing 74th position out of the 124 candidates declared successful. He is currently posted as the Medical Officer for Behiang sub-division in the erstwhile state of Manipur. He told our newsletter that he intends to pursue his further studies and would enroll for specialization very soon. On being asked about his future plans and Israel, he replies that it is the dream of every B'nei Menashe to live in Israel and that he is no exception. "When our turn comes, we'll be ready" he says and continues, "There is one problem which our community faces: the unpredictability of our turn on the aliya. This stands as a challenge to our academic pursuits and aspirations. I plan to begin my specialization very soon but if the aliya comes along while I am in the middle of my studies, I might have to just give it up. A solution to this problem, dilemma has to be found".

Degel Menashe wishes Josiah and Naomi good tidings to become one of the pillars of the B'nei Menashe community, in spirit and in temporal aspirations. Mazal Tov!

PRE-PURIM EXCITEMENT AT MA'OZ TSUR SCHOOL

Art class in progress at Kibbutz Ma'oz Tzur.

(March 12, 2025) Last week there was a pre-Purim celebration for Kibbutz Ma'oz Tzur's school going children at the Rav Eliyahu Avichayil Hebrew School. An anonymous donor bought crayons and papers for an 'art-fest'. Excitement was abuzz with the children as they got engrossed in coloring the pages that had been provided. It was supervised by the newly appointed teacher in charge of the elementary school, Ms. Leah Baite. She told our newsletter that the community was planning a celebration of Purim, due next week, by the reading of the Megillat Esther followed by a community meal shared with all residents and some guests from other B'nei Menashe communities and BMC members. There are plans to distribute presents, as well, our newsletter was told. Our newsletter will make a full coverage of the event.

Crayons from an anonymous donor.

A budding artist.

Kibbutz Ma'oz Tzur's elementary school children pose happily post art-fest.

Degel Menashe Participates in "FOODISH" at ANU Diaspora Museum, Tel Aviv

Guests fill a packed hall at the FOODISH event at ANU Museum.

(March 5, 2025) Last Wednesday, 26th February, Degel Menashe joined the Indian Jewish Heritage Center (IJHC), other Indian Jewish communities and organizations at ANU Diaspora Museum to celebrate the culinary heritage of each of their communities. The evening was graced by the presence of the representative of the Indian Embassy, Mr. Tejeshwar Garika, first secretary, Public Diplomacy, Mr. Oded Revivi, the new incoming CEO of the ANU Diaspora Museum and a host of other dignitaries. A welcome address was given and the podium was given to Mr. Revivi and Mr. Garikar who expressed the importance of preserving ones' heritage in every form and highlighting the contribution of the Indian Jewry in Israel. Degel Menashe is proud to be associated with this celebration as one of the sponsors of this prestigious event.

"A Journey Among Spices"

Rafi Bhonkar, president IJHC speaks to the guests.

Having completed the formalities, welcome and and introductions, the president of the IJHC, Rafi Bhonkar took the audience on a trip through time to tell the story of the four Jewish Indian communities that have thrived in India, sharing lives, food and culture. He explained each journey through maps and displays. As we are all aware, the B'nei Menashe are one of the four Indian Jewish communities in Israel consisting of the Bene

Executive director, Thangjom with CEO, Revivi.

Israel, the Baghdadis and the Cochinis. Each having come from different parts of India bringing with them a wealth of heritage and customs, each an adaptation to the place where they have thrived for hundreds and even thousands of years. This is reflected in the food that have developed with each communities. While the Bene Israeli preparations tend to have Maharashtrian influences, the same is true for the Cochinis with their obvious south Indian bent. The Baghdadis are, relatively, new, having come to India during the advent of British trade missions and their subsequent

Kathakali dance performance.

colonial enterprises. They came to take advantage of an opportunity in the trade boom that was taking place in the region. In their kitchens, one will find the most delectable favorites the sub-continent has to offer, from the biryanis, various vegetables and lentils preparations to tandoori (local Indian coal/log fired clay ovens) dishes. Their cooking can truly be called continental or pan-Indian. But the most exotic spot is reserved for the B'nei Menashe. Their traditional cooking mainly consists of simple stews but coming in contact with the heart of India, spices and elements, it has evolved to give rise to what might be described as "India meets southeast Asia". Ilana Shazor and her two dancers provided for delightful distractions, treating the audience to kathakali and another performance adapted to a composition by her. The event "FOODISH" attempts to bring all them together for an evening of interaction, to learn and enrich each other with their distinctive style. In this aspect, it has succeeded beyond all expectations.

Jessica introduces and explains B'nei Menashe gastronomy.

Elizabeth Binyamin presented the Bene Israel food, Mati Haymus did so for the Baghdadis and Ilanit Menachem introduced the aroma of Cochini spice. The flavors of the B'nei Menashe came to life with Jessica's presentation, wife of Degel Menashe's executive director. While these 'eshet chayil' went about describing their food in front of the more than a hundred enthralled audience, that was not all in store. Each women had prepared the food they had described and it was waiting in the hall nearby to be served, sampled and savored. In their four corners, the women had set up their camps on trolleys provided by the museum, each ready with their dishes and wares. The air was filled with a melee of spices as the women served their flavor laden food to the eager crowd. Jessica served an all-time B'nei Menashe favorite, the ubiquitous 'mepoh'. 'Mepoh' is a rice-based preparation which serves as a kind of a cooking template where one has the option to mix and match various kinds of vegetables, meat and garnishings of whole spices and herbs. Today it was rice, cabbage and peas with ginger and basil, served on a bed of jasmine rice! Needless to say, the empty food trays at the end of the it all was a silent testimony to what had been relished!

If the success of this endeavor is any indicator, there are chances that similar programs will follow in the future.