DAVID JAMKHOSEM LHUNGDIM

David Jamkhosem Lhungdim was born on March 31, 1919, in old Gelmuol village, and married Mrs. Hatkholhing Sarah Lhungdim in 1952. He has always loved and been passionate about Manmasi's culture and traditions (Kuki, Chin, and Mizo). As chief of the old Gelmuol village, he saw the importance of religion, so he summoned his village elders in 1952 and told them they needed to create a foundation for religion; that same year, they chose Presbyterian Christianity. The Presbyterian Church focuses on spiritual trance during their church services; thus, while praying in the midst of trance, his wife Hatkholhing had a revelation that they needed to celebrate the seventh day, Shabbat, as a day of rest.

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As a result, he began contacting Thangruma and Thangkamlo, a Seventh-day Adventist, after learning that they keep Shabbat. He accepted Seventh-day Adventism and began to pray with Thangruma and Thangkamlo's congregation. However, his desire to discover his inner struggle for his spiritual quest led him to embrace the messianic form of Judaism in 1967, which meant that they began to refrain from eating non-Kosher animals found in the Torah and observing festivals found in the Bible while also believing that Jesus is the awaited Messiah.

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In 1968, fortune favored him; T. Daniel Lhungdim, a researcher, poet, and songwriter of the Kuki Chin Mizo tribe, was banished by his kinsman from Muolnom hamlet in Churachandpur. The issue was because T. Daniel's eager inquiry led him to a sabbatical movement that was not accepted by his family. Thus, T. Daniel Lhungdim's inquisitive research and investigation led him to old Gelmuol village, where he sought refuge under the chieftainship of David Jamkhosem Lhungdim, who consoled T. Daniel and kept him from becoming too discontented. He lifted his spirits by comforting him, encouraging him to pursue his research, and promising him financial support.

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The two began discussing their forefathers' rituals and traditions. David Jamkhosem asked T. Daniel to expand his investigation into the origins of Khul (a mythological cave beneath the earth thought to be the birthplace of Manmasi tribes—the Kuki-Chin-Mizo people). According to his perspective, no nation could be founded out of a cave, so there must be a secret meaning behind this tradition, and he asked T. Daniel to conduct further research on the origins of Khul. As a result, T. Daniel made multiple visits to Mumbai and Calcutta's National Libraries for research purposes.

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David Jamkhosem maintained his commitment on each of his trips. He remained committed to funding T. Daniel's journey with generous contributions, in addition to the UJNEI organization. Finally, his generosity and kindness prompted T. Daniel Lhungdim to discover that their ancestors traced back to Menashe, Yosef's son. This ultimately resulted in the establishment of Judaism among the Kuki-Chin-Mizo in northeastern India. So, when T. Daniel returned from Mumbai in 1976 with a tefillin, tzitzit, and a Torah scroll, David Jamkhosem, the chief of Old Gelmuol Village, generously offered two cows to be slaughtered to commemorate the arrival of the first holy objects among the offspring of Menashe after the exile.

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After adopting Judaism, he delegated his chieftainship to his younger brother. His justification was that he would one day have the opportunity to return to his ancestral land, Israel. His chieftainship no longer played a role in this decision. He also left his job as a teacher because it conflicted with his desire to observe Shabbat. His faith in Judaism paid off when his family was able to immigrate to Israel in 2002, allowing him to see his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Furthermore, residing at Kiryat Arba, close to the tombs of the patriarchs Machpela Avraham, Yitzkhak, and Yaakov, is a meritorious choice.

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Jamkhosem David Lhungdim passed away on May 8, 2012, and was laid to rest in Jerusalem's Mount Olive Cemetery.