The Bnei Menashe (Hebrew: בני מנשה, "Children of Menasseh") are a group of more than 9,000 people from India's North-Eastern border states of Manipur and Mizoram who claim descent from one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. The claim appeared after a Pentecostalist dreamt in 1951 that his people's pre-Christian religion was Judaism and that their original homeland was Israel. Linguistically, Bnei Menashe are Tibeto-Burmans and belong to the Mizo, Kuki and Chin peoples (the terms are virtually interchangeable). They are called Chin in Burma.
Depending upon their affiliations, each tribe refers to itself as Kuki, Mizo, or Chin. It is however more common for people to identify themselves by their subtribe, each of which has its own distinct dialect and identity.
The breakaway Judaic group was named Bnei Menashe by Eliyahu Avichail because they believe that the legendary Kuki-Mizo ancestor Manmasi was Menasseh, son of Joseph.
Read more about Bnei Menashe: History and Legends, Revivalism, Challianthanga's Vision, Amishav and Shavei Israel, Acceptance, Israeli Disengagement From Gaza and The Bnei Menashe, Controversy in Israel, Controversy in India, Israel Halts Conversions, Controversial DNA Tests, Timeline (modern)