AIZAWL: Jobs, economic development , complete prohibition — sundry parties have promised these and more as the campaign for the November 28 assembly election in the northeastern state hots up. Lalthlamuani Sailo however, is offering something different — spiritual sustenance and the promise to build a ‘New Jerusalem’ in Mizoram if she wins. Contesting the polls is, literally, God’s work for this 63-yearold.Lalthlamuani — who will contest from the Aizawl South-I seat as an Independent candidate on behalf of evangelist outfit Zoram Thar — is a member of the Bnei Menashe community, who believe they are descendants of one of the 10 ‘Lost Tribes’ of Israel. She is also the first from the community to contest an election in Mizoram.The Bnei Menashes — who are eligible for emigration to Israel provided they undergo an exhaustive conversion to Judaism — claim they ended up in India’s north-east, particularly Mizoram and Manipur, after a difficult journey through central Asia and China’s Chhinlung region following the invasion of the Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians in 721 BC. There are an estimated 20,000 people of the community across the state and an almost equal number have left for Israel over the past 40 years after formally converting to Judaism. Official recognition from Israel came in 2005, and led to larger numbers of Bnei Menashes emigrating to that country under its ‘Law of Return’.For Lalthlamuani, the creation of a New Jerusalem is nothing less than a biblical duty. “It is God’s desire that I should contest the election and work for the establishment of a New Jerusalem here,” said the elderly woman, who is currently visiting the households in her constituency to hold prayer sessions and talk about scriptures. She has her work cut out; the Aizawl South-I constituency is one of the largest of the state’s 40 seats and has over 20,000 voters. Her campaign is being funded by relatives in Delhi and Australia, as well as her own savings.“People laugh at me sometimes but that does not discourage me because I know I am doing God’s duty,” she said. It is her faith in God that has given her the confidence to take on powerful candidates — R Vanlanvena of Congress, K Liantlinga of Mizo National Front and Zonutluanga of BJP.The biblical concept of a ‘New Jerusalem’ can be traced back to the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible, she explained. New Jerusalem is Ezekiel’s prophetic vision of a city to be established in Jerusalem that will be a meeting place of the 12 tribes of Israel, including the 10 ‘lost’ ones of which the Bnei Menashe claim they are one.Recognition of the Bnei Menashe identity as unique — and as valid even without conversion to Judaism — is a project close to the Sailo family’s heart. Lalthlamuani’s late husband Lalchhanhima Sailo set up the Chhinlung Israel People Convention in 1999. Carrying on the mantle now is Lalthlamuani’s son Franky, the marketing head of an oil firm and a resident of Aizawl.Franky said the establishment of a New Jerusalem would not mean large-scale conversion of people. He added that Israel did recognize the Bnei Menashes of Mizoram and other north-eastern states but only when they converted to Judaism. “There should be no question of conversion as we are already the descendants of the Lost Tribes. In fact, the unique status of the Bnei Menashes should be recognized even if we don’t convert to Judaism. If my mother wins, she will make this issue central to her work,” he added.Picture

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