Nof HaGalil Publishes First Prayer Books in Kukish and Mizo for Bnei Menashe

In a unique initiative aimed at assisting with immigrant absorption, the city of Nof HaGalil has published the first-ever prayer book in the Kukish and Mizo languages. Serving as the capital for the Bnei Menashe immigrant community, the city produced the prayer books to serve community members who arrived in Israel about six months ago, as well as in anticipation of hundreds of additional immigrants expected to arrive in the coming months.

The story behind the publication of this special prayer book began during an accidental encounter on the eve of the last Rosh Hashanah. Mayor Ronen Plot met with the immigrants and asked how he could assist them with their integration into the city. To his surprise, the immigrants replied that they only needed a prayer book and High Holiday prayer book in the Kukish and Mizoram languages, enabling them to pray in the full traditional format practiced in Israeli synagogues. The community members shared that while they were in India, the prayer format was passed down orally from generation to generation, and they had never possessed a written prayer book in their mother tongue.

Preserving Heritage and Fostering Integration

"Since we are in the country, it is important for us to follow the prayers in the synagogue, become familiar with the full liturgy, and understand the meaning of the words through the languages we know," community members explained. Mayor Plot decided to advance the request that very day, turning to the chairman of the Religious Council, Rabbi Amnon Cohen, and the city rabbi, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Nahshon, asking them to facilitate the translation and publication of the prayer books.

"When we are in the land, it is important for us to follow the prayer in the synagogue, to know the full liturgy and understand the meaning of the words through the languages we know." — Bnei Menashe community members

Today, this touching request became a reality with the launch of the printed prayer book. To mark the occasion, a festive meeting was held in the mayor's office, during which the new prayer books were distributed to community representatives in the presence of the city rabbi, the chairman of the Religious Council, and the deputy mayors.

A Legacy Spanning Three Millennia

During the event, Religious Council Chairman Rabbi Amnon Cohen noted that the new immigrants diligently frequent the city's synagogues and integrate remarkably well into the life of the local religious community.

• Originates from descendants of the tribe of Menashe, exiled over 3,000 years ago by the King of Assyria.

• Most community members currently reside in northeastern India.

• Kukish belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family.

The Bnei Menashe community consists of descendants of the tribe of Menashe, one of the Ten Tribes exiled from the Land of Israel more than 3,000 years ago by the King of Assyria. Most members of the community currently reside in northeastern India, an area where the Kukish language and its various dialects, belonging to the Sino-Tibetan language family, are spoken.