Shavei Israel

Shavei Israel is an Israel-based Jewish organization founded in 2002 by Michael Freund. Its work focuses on people and communities who describe themselves as descendants of Jews, members of hidden or crypto-Jewish communities, descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel, or Jewish groups that were separated from Jewish practice through historical assimilation. The organization also works with people who have converted, or who are seeking Orthodox conversion, and aims to help them participate more fully in Jewish and Israeli communal life. The organization combines research, Jewish education, rabbinic support, community development, and assistance with aliyah when individuals meet the relevant religious and legal requirements. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer brand, Shavei Israel functions as a nonprofit religious and community-support organization whose public identity is associated with the idea of helping dispersed or disconnected Jewish communities return to Jewish life and establish links with Israel. Its activities have included sponsoring rabbis and teachers in locations where communities identify with Jewish ancestry or are undergoing a process of Jewish reconnection. Affiliates and representatives have worked in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Poland, Russia, and northeastern India. In Spain, the organization has supported rabbinic activity in Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Valencia, and Granada. It has also supported work in Belmonte in Portugal, San Nicandro Garganico in Italy, Kraków and Wrocław in Poland, and among Subbotnik Jewish communities in Russia. In India, its best-known work has concerned the Bnei Menashe communities of Mizoram and Manipur. Shavei Israel operates Machon Miriam in Jerusalem, a Spanish-language institute associated with education and preparation for return or conversion. Participants who pursue formal conversion undergo the procedures required by Israel's Chief Rabbinate. The organization has also published Jewish educational materials in multiple languages, including Mizo, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian, German, Chinese, and Japanese. The Bnei Menashe program became a central part of Shavei Israel's public profile. Following recognition by Israel's Chief Rabbi in 2005, members of the community were able to pursue aliyah subject to formal conversion requirements. Shavei Israel provided educational and rabbinic assistance in India and helped immigrants with settlement and integration in Israel. According to the organization's cited account, approximately 5,000 Bnei Menashe had made aliyah with its assistance by 2024. The organization's work has also generated controversy. Critics and some Indian authorities raised concerns that efforts involving conversion and Jewish outreach among Mizo-Kuki communities could conflict with India's restrictions on proselytizing. These concerns contributed to the temporary recall of rabbinic court teams from India in 2005 and later affected the way Bnei Menashe immigration and conversion processes were organized. Shavei Israel's activities therefore sit at the intersection of religious identity, immigration policy, minority-community affairs, and Israeli diaspora engagement.

Shavei Israel was established in 2002 by Michael Freund, an American-born Israeli who had immigrated to Israel in 1995. Before founding the organization, Freund served in the communications office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as deputy director of communications in 1996. During that period, he encountered an appeal from members of the Bnei Menashe community in India, who asked Israel to help them establish a connection with the Jewish people and pursue aliyah. That experience influenced the creation of Shavei Israel. The organization emerged in a field that had already been associated with Amishav, an earlier organization founded in 1975 by Rabbi Eliyahu Avichail. Amishav pursued related objectives involving groups that claimed descent from the Lost Tribes of Israel and other communities separated from Jewish practice. Avichail later stepped aside from leadership, while Freund went on to create Shavei Israel as a separate organization. Shavei Israel's mission has developed around several overlapping categories of community: alleged descendants of the Lost Tribes, crypto-Jews and other hidden Jewish communities, people whose families were forcibly assimilated under Communist regimes, and individuals who have converted or wish to convert to Judaism. Its practical work has included identifying communities, arranging Jewish instruction, placing rabbis and teachers, supporting local institutions, publishing educational materials, and helping eligible individuals navigate conversion and immigration procedures. The Bnei Menashe of northeastern India became the organization's most prominent long-term program. The Bnei Menashe, largely associated with communities in Mizoram and Manipur, identify themselves as descendants of one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. Shavei Israel supported teachers and religious infrastructure in India and worked to obtain recognition for the community. In March 2005, Israel's Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar recognized the Bnei Menashe as descendants of Israel, while requiring individuals seeking immigration to complete a full formal conversion because of the community's long historical separation from Judaism. A mikvah was completed in Mizoram in June 2005 under Israeli rabbinic supervision to support the conversion process. The Bnei Menashe program also produced political and religious friction. Indian authorities and Hindu organizations expressed concern that conversion activity among Mizo-Kuki populations could amount to prohibited proselytizing. In response to these concerns, Israel recalled rabbinic court teams in November 2005. After immigration visas were suspended for several years, the Israeli government announced in January 2010 that the remaining Bnei Menashe could pursue aliyah over approximately one to two years after completing conversion arrangements, including through facilities in Nepal. Shavei Israel continued to assist immigrants with integration after arrival. The organization states that roughly 5,000 Bnei Menashe had made aliyah through its assistance by 2024. Shavei Israel expanded its geographic work beyond India. Its affiliated rabbis and educators have served communities in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Poland, Russia, and other locations. In Spain, activity has included Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Valencia, and Granada; in Portugal, Belmonte; in Italy, San Nicandro Garganico; and in Poland, Kraków and Wrocław. In December 2010, Rabbi Shlomo Zelig Avrasin was sent to work with Subbotnik Jewish communities in Russia, particularly in Vysoky. In Jerusalem, the organization operates Machon Miriam, a Spanish-language institute for people seeking Jewish education, conversion preparation, or a structured return to Jewish life. Graduates who pursue formal conversion undergo the process supervised by Israel's Chief Rabbinate. The organization has also produced books and other educational resources in a wide range of languages, reflecting its international and multilingual mission. A further area of activity developed in Latin America. In 2013, Freund became aware of large numbers of people from Christian family backgrounds who were pursuing Orthodox Jewish conversion and considering immigration to Israel. Shavei Israel began working with Israeli authorities and these prospective converts, and in June 2015 a first small group moved to Israel. This work broadened the organization's role from assisting groups claiming historical Jewish descent to also supporting converts seeking integration into established Jewish and Israeli communities. Shavei Israel's history is consequently defined less by commercial product development than by institution-building, religious education, conversion support, and migration assistance. Its initiatives have repeatedly depended on cooperation with rabbis, Israel's Chief Rabbinate, Israeli immigration authorities, local communities, and governments in countries where its outreach takes place. The same activities have also attracted criticism, particularly where conversion efforts intersected with local restrictions on religious proselytizing.

• 2024

  Reported Bnei Menashe aliyah reaches approximately 5,000

  [1]Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Shavei Israel reported that approximately 5,000 Bnei Menashe had made aliyah to Israel with its assistance.

• 2015

  First small Latin American group moves to Israel

  [1]Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org

  A first small group of Latin American converts assisted by the organization moved to Israel.

• 2013

  Latin American conversion and aliyah work develops

  [1]Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Michael Freund began working with Latin American converts and Israeli authorities on a pathway toward Jewish communal integration and immigration.

• 2010

  Subbotnik Jewish community work begins in Russia

  [1]Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Rabbi Shlomo Zelig Avrasin was sent to work with Subbotnik Jewish communities in Russia, particularly in Vysoky.

• 2010

  A route for remaining Bnei Menashe immigration is announced

  [1]Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Israel announced that remaining Bnei Menashe members could pursue aliyah after completing conversion arrangements, including through facilities in Nepal.

• 2005

  Bnei Menashe receive recognition from Israel's Chief Rabbi

  [1]Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org

  The Bnei Menashe were recognized as descendants of Israel, while prospective immigrants were required to complete a formal conversion process.

• 2005

  Mikvah is completed in Mizoram

  [1]Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org

  A mikvah was completed in Mizoram under the supervision of Israeli rabbis to support the Bnei Menashe conversion process.

• 2005

  Bnei Menashe resettlement support expands

  [1]Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Shavei Israel supported the resettlement of 218 Bnei Menashe immigrants in Upper Nazareth and Karmiel.

• 2002

  Shavei Israel is established

  [1]Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Michael Freund founded Shavei Israel to support people and communities seeking to reconnect with Jewish identity, Israel, and the Jewish people.

• 1975

  Amishav is founded

  [1]Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Rabbi Eliyahu Avichail founded Amishav, an organization with objectives related to identifying and reconnecting groups associated with the Lost Tribes and other separated Jewish communities. Amishav later provided part of the background for Shavei Israel.

A faith-based Jewish organization focused on reconnecting dispersed, hidden, or newly affiliated Jewish communities with Jewish education, religious institutions, Israel, and, when possible, aliyah.

• Educational materials

  Multilingual Jewish educational publications

  Shavei Israel publishes books and educational resources intended to explain Jewish beliefs, practice, history, and communal life to audiences in dispersed or emerging Jewish communities. Materials have been produced in languages including Chinese, Japanese, Mizo, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, and German. These publications support the organization's wider teaching and community-building work rather than functioning as conventional commercial consumer products.

• Conversion and Jewish education

  Machon Miriam

  Machon Miriam is a Spanish-language institute in Jerusalem associated with Shavei Israel. It provides Jewish education and preparation for people seeking to reconnect with Judaism or undertake a formal conversion process. Participants who proceed toward conversion are processed through the requirements of Israel's Chief Rabbinate.

• Religious and community services

  Community rabbinic and education programs

  The organization sponsors or supports rabbis, teachers, and local educational activity for communities that identify with Jewish ancestry, hidden Jewish traditions, or recent conversion. Programs have operated across Europe, Latin America, Russia, and northeastern India, with the purpose of strengthening religious knowledge and links to the wider Jewish people.

• 2005

  Criticism of conversion activity among Bnei Menashe communities

  The organization's work with Bnei Menashe communities drew criticism and official concern in India over whether Jewish conversion activity constituted proselytizing in traditionally Hindu areas. Rabbinic court teams were recalled, and the issue contributed to restrictions and delays affecting the conversion and immigration process.

  Source

Read more

• 2013Latin American converts and aliyah initiative

  Latin America · Israel

  The organization began assisting people from Christian family backgrounds who were pursuing Orthodox conversion and seeking integration into Israel and the Jewish people.

  Outcome. The first small group supported through the initiative moved to Israel in June 2015.

  Source
• 2010Subbotnik Jewish community outreach

  Russia

  Shavei Israel assigned Rabbi Shlomo Zelig Avrasin to work with Subbotnik Jewish communities, particularly in Vysoky.

  Outcome. The program extended the organization's rabbinic and educational network to Russian communities identifying with Jewish heritage.

  Source
• 2005Bnei Menashe recognition and aliyah support

  India · Israel

  Shavei Israel supported Bnei Menashe education, religious infrastructure, conversion preparation, immigration, and post-arrival integration after recognition by Israel's Chief Rabbi.

  Outcome. The program enabled eligible community members to pursue formal conversion and aliyah. The organization later reported approximately 5,000 Bnei Menashe immigrants assisted by 2024.

  Source

• 2013

  Expand from ancestral-identity communities to Latin American convertsStrategy

  Background

  Michael Freund identified a substantial group of Latin Americans from Christian family backgrounds who were pursuing Orthodox conversion and considering immigration to Israel.

  Action taken

  Shavei Israel began coordinating with Israeli authorities and prospective converts, adding conversion support and communal integration work in Latin America to its existing international activities.

  Aftermath

  A first small group assisted through the initiative moved to Israel in June 2015.

  Source

• 2010

  Use conversion facilities outside India for remaining Bnei Menashe candidatesStrategy

  Background

  After visas for Bnei Menashe applicants had been suspended for several years amid political and religious concerns in India, Israel announced a revised route for remaining candidates.

  Action taken

  The organization supported a process in which remaining candidates could complete conversion at facilities in Nepal before pursuing aliyah.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement was intended to reduce the difficulties associated with conducting the process directly in India and reopened a pathway for further immigration.

  Source

• 2005

  Support formal conversion as a condition for Bnei Menashe aliyahStrategy

  Background

  Israel's Chief Rabbi recognized the Bnei Menashe as descendants of Israel but determined that their long separation from Judaism meant prospective immigrants needed to complete a full formal conversion.

  Action taken

  Shavei Israel supported Jewish education, teachers, rabbinic supervision, and religious infrastructure, including a mikvah in Mizoram, to help candidates meet the conversion requirements.

  Aftermath

  The approach enabled an immigration pathway but also intensified criticism in India concerning proselytizing and led to the recall of rabbinic court teams in 2005.

  Source

• 2015

  First small group of Latin American converts moves to Israel[1]Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  After working with Israeli authorities and Latin American converts to Orthodox Judaism, Shavei Israel helped facilitate the move of an initial small group to Israel.

• 2010

  Israel announces a route for remaining Bnei Menashe to make aliyah[1]Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  The Israeli government announced that remaining Bnei Menashe members could immigrate over a period of roughly one to two years after completing conversion arrangements outside India, including through facilities in Nepal.

• 2005

  Israel recognizes the Bnei Menashe as descendants of Israel[1]Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Israel's Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar recognized the Bnei Menashe as descendants of Israel, enabling those who completed the required formal conversion process to pursue immigration under the Law of Return. Shavei Israel supported the community's education and migration efforts.

1. 1Shavei Israelen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Shavei Israel official websiteshavei.org