Learning Hebrew to be Israeli: How education is shaping the Bnei Menashe community’s journey

17-year-old Jessica (name changed) came from Manipur, where she had completed Class 12 but could not sit her final examinations. When she arrived in Israel in April 2026, she began learning the language she would need to continue her studies and build a life in a country very different from the one she had left behind.

On one hand, it was her dream come true, but on the other, it was the challenge of adapting to several new things at the same time. Learning Hebrew perfectly was one of them. She was not alone. For thousands of members of the Bnei Menashe community in Manipur and Mizoram, migration to Israel promises a fresh start.

But between the decision to leave and the prospect of a settled life lie several hurdles, including religious recognition, language lessons, interrupted education and the search for work. For young people, in particular, learning Hebrew can make the difference between simply settling in Israel and finding a way to move forward.

The community identifies itself as descended from the biblical Tribe of Manasseh, one of the so-called lost tribes of Israel. “Its members have practised forms of orthodox Judaism for generations, and Israel has facilitated their immigration through a process involving religious recognition and conversion.

Dayanim are the Jewish court of law who looks after Bnei Menashe,” said Avielah Bat Menashe, who came to Israel in 2013 is presently working as a Ballanit in a mikveh. Avielah wants her 31-year-old daughter, currently residing in Delhi, to move to Israel for work and a better lifestyle.

While explaining that the language programmes and kibbutzim provide learning opportunities that can help people prepare for work, she said, “We already followed Shabbat in India. Once the tribal people land here in Israel, they get their training in Hebrew from Ulpan Ivrit.

After completion of the course, certificates are given, which further helps them to fetch a job in the holy land of Israel.” In November 2025, the Israeli government approved a plan to bring approximately 5,800 remaining members of the community to Israel by 2030.

The first phase envisaged the arrival of 1,200 people by the end of 2026, with further groups expected to follow over the next four years. “The first week of November 2026 will be the last week of interviews. I am looking for a Rabbi from Delhi to help me with recommendation,” Avielah said.

The scale of the proposed migration raises an important question: what happens after these families arrive? For many, the answer will depend on how quickly they can learn the language, continue their education and find their place in Israeli society.

Jessica’s immediate priority is to continue her education. She was living at an absorption centre in Nof HaGalil and attending Hebrew lessons after arriving in Israel. She hopes to complete her studies and eventually undertake national service.

For now, learning the language is an essential step towards those ambitions. “The challenge is easy to underestimate. Hebrew is written from right to left, unlike English, and uses an alphabet of 22 letters. In everyday printed texts, vowels are generally omitted, making unfamiliar words harder for beginners to read until they become familiar with their spelling and pronunciation.

The language also has its own grammatical structures and verb patterns,” Jessica said. For a student who has spent years studying in another language, the transition can be demanding. Understanding a lesson is one thing; answering a teacher confidently, writing an examination, or following a fast-moving classroom discussion is another.

Progress varies according to age, previous language experience, the intensity of instruction and opportunities to practise outside the classroom. For students such as Jessica, the stakes are higher than simply learning to converse.

Hebrew is also the language through which they must navigate the education system and prepare for their next academic step. Addressing the challenges Jessica mentioned, “The crucial question is whether the opportunities offered during resettlement will enable newcomers to become independent over time.” “A student arriving from India may already understand mathematics, science, or history well.

Yet demonstrating that knowledge in a new language can take considerably longer,” Jessica said, demonstrating the problems she faced. She said, “Instructions may need to be read twice. An answer that comes easily in a familiar language may be difficult to express in Hebrew.” For teenagers whose schooling has been interrupted, the adjustment can be particularly difficult.

They may have to establish their academic standing, understand unfamiliar examination requirements, and work out which courses they can pursue. Jessica’s experience is a reminder that migration does not automatically translate into better educational outcomes.

The opportunities may be there, but students need the language skills and institutional support to access them. “There is also a social side to learning. A child who cannot follow conversations among classmates may find it harder to make friends or feel at home in school.

For adults, limited Hebrew can make routine interactions with officials, employers and neighbours uncomfortable,” said Avielah who had experienced such challenges. Language lessons therefore serve a purpose beyond the classroom.

They help newcomers take part in the ordinary exchanges through which people become familiar with a new place. Amit Cohen, a Hebrew teacher who has worked with Bnei Menashe students since 2012, has learnt that teaching newcomers requires an understanding of the languages and experiences they bring with them.

Her work has included teaching Hebrew in different universities and at absorption centres in Israel. She has also developed learning materials, including Hebrew–Kuki and Hebrew–Mizo dictionaries, for students from the community.