This photograph was taken at an absorption center for new immigrants in Israel. The subjects of the photo are members of the Bnei Menashe (Children of Menashe), a small group of people from northeast India whose traditions bear similarities to Jewish practice and who believe they are descended from the ancient Israelite tribe of Menashe. They trace their history to the exile of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 721 BCE, across Asia to China, and Œfinally to India. In recent years, small groups of Bnei Menashe have immigrated to Israel, offiŒcially converted to Judaism, and begun to learn about traditional Jewish practice.