'Lost tribe' members can settle in Israel after converting to orthodox Judaism

About 700 of India's Bnei Menashe Jews - reputedly descended from one of the lost tribes of Israel - have been formally converted to orthodox Judaism, giving them the right to return to their 'homeland' of Israel.

The conversions, about 500 of which were carried out yesterday, came after Shlomo Amar, Israel's Sephardic chief rabbi, announced in April that he accepted the Bnei Menashe, or the 'Children of Manasseh', as one of the 10 lost tribes.

India's 9,000 Bnei Menashe Jews are now eagerly awaiting conversion and the chance to escape the impoverished northeastern states of Mizoram and Manipur.

A Beit Din, or rabbinical court, arrived in India last week on a mission to convert the Bnei Menashe.

Last week in Mizoram, about 200 were converted. Lyon Fanai, a Bnei Menashe leader there, said: 'This time only a small population of us are being converted in India. But Beit Din will return to India again to conduct similar conversions in future. We all will finally get the right of aliyah [return to Israel] and settle in our long-lost homeland.'

David Haokip, 23, a Bnei Menashe youth leader who embraced Judaism five years ago and goes to the synagogue to pray three times every day, said: 'When we knew we were recognised by the Chief Rabbinate it was the happiest news of my life. Now the Beit Din will change my life [by] selecting me for the conversion, I hope.'

Mr Haokip will face the Beit Din in Churachandpur today. He hopes to settle in Israel and join the defence force there.