First in the world: A prayer book produced in the native language of Bnei Menashe immigrants

The Noff HaGalil municipality has produced, for the first time, prayer books and holiday prayer books in the Kuki and Mizo languages for the Bnei Menashe community immigrants who arrived in Israel about six months ago. The initiative was born after community members told the mayor that prayers were passed down orally and they never had a translated prayer book. The prayer books were distributed at the mayor's office in the presence of the city's rabbis and community representatives.

The Noff HaGalil municipality, defined as the capital of Bnei Menashe immigrants, has produced for the first time prayer books and holiday prayer books in the Kuki and Mizo languages for members of the community who immigrated to Israel about six months ago. The initiative was born during a chance meeting on Rosh Hashanah eve, where the immigrants told Mayor Ronen Plot that prayers were passed down orally from generation to generation and they never had a translated prayer book. The mayor turned to the chairman of the religious council, Rabbi Amnon Cohen, and the city's rabbi, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Nachshon, who initiated the translation and publication. The prayer books were distributed at the mayor's office in the presence of the city's rabbis and community representatives. The Bnei Menashe community consists of descendants of the tribe of Menashe, one of the ten tribes exiled from the Land of Israel over 3,000 years ago. Most community members live in northeastern India, a region where the Kuki language is spoken.