Hundreds listen attentively to speech after speech praising G-d for finally allowing outside Jewish visitors to come to Churachandpur, two hours south of Imphal. Churachandpur embraced Judaism 25 years ago and still boasts the Benei Menashe’s flagship community, with several synagogues housing 1500 members. Yet, even Israeli Rabbi Eliayahu Avichail, the community’s father figure, was five times denied access to Churachandpur.

back