Gideon Rei

Gideon Rei was born on July 7, 1940, in Mizoram and wed Nurith Rei. In his youth, his family moved to Churachandpur in southern Manipur, where he enrolled in the government higher secondary school.

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 From an early age, Gideon Rey was resolute in his quest to uncover the authentic religion. His passionate pursuit ultimately led to his position as a preacher in the International Zion Church of God, whose members were staunch advocates of Israel. They adhered to the Sabbath and biblical festivals while maintaining their faith in Jesus as the Messiah.

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 His internal struggle to find a genuine religion led to a significant affiliation with T. Daniel Lhungdim and V.L. Binyamin, the contemporaneous leaders of UJNEI. In 1975.

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 The UJNEI leaders appointed Gideon Ray as their ambassador to Mizoram, and he arrived during the final week of December, his audience predominantly consisted of individuals from the Church of God denomination. Subsequently, individuals were ready to adopt Judaism. Gideon Rei sent a telegram to UJNEI headquarters in Churachandpur, reporting the success of his mission.

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The organization's three leaders, President V.L. Binyamin, General Secretary T. Daniel, and Speaker Yosef Jangkhothang Lhanghal, traveled to Mizoram after receiving a successful report from their envoy.

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 Following T. Daniel's return from Bombay on Chol Hamoed Pesach April, 1976, with a sefer Torah, Tefillin, Tzitzith, and various Jewish halachic texts, marking the rebirth of Judaism among the Bnei Menashe tribe in Northeast India. The leader of UJNEI sent Gideon Ray to Mizoram once more with multiple copies of all pertinent materials on the Jewish religion, which T. Daniel had previously forwarded to the Bnei Menashe Headquarters (UJNEI) in Manipur during his time in Bombay.

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Subsequent to Rei's arrival in Mizoram, a conference was convened at Hmunpui. Gideon Rei disseminated the reprinted copies of religious literature to the villagers.

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In June 1976 Gideon Rei went to Bombay with Abshalom Yosef Rohluma and Joshua Binyamin they fulfilled the ritual mitzvah of circumcision performed by Dr. Barukh Kolet.

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Judaism in Mizoram originated from Manipur, as previously mentioned. As the envoy of UJNEI in Mizoram, Gideon Rei laid the foundations of Judaism among the Bnei Menashe in Mizoram.

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In March 1974, the synagogue located at Daniel Lhungdim's home in Tuibuong Headquarters moved to Phunglen Resident in New Bazaar, where it remained until October 1978.

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Financial issues and miscommunications within the community prevented Daniel Lhungdim from carrying out his responsibilities as spiritual leader that year. He therefore gave the Sefer Torah and UJNEI logo to community leaders: Moshe Isaac, the chairman of the synagogue; Chazzan Gidon Rei; and distinguished members Jeremiah Lhungdim and Yonathan Touthang.

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The UJNEI held new elections. Moshe Isaac Vaiphei was chosen as treasurer, Jeremiah Lhungdim as secretary, and V.L. Binyamin as president, Gideon Rei Chazan.

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In 1981, a significant event transpired in Gideon Rei's life when the organization UJNEI received a correspondence from Rabbi Eliyahu Avichail regarding the dispatch of youth to study in Israel.

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The community selected Gideon Rei Vankhuma and Simeon Gin, who departed from Imphal airport on January 8, 1981. On January 14, 1981, Rabbi Avichail received them at Ben Gurion Airport and subsequently enrolled them in Machon Meir Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

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Rei studied halachic subjects pertinent to the everyday existence of the Jewish life. In 1983, he returned to Northeast India and assumed the role of spiritual leader (Chazzan) for Bnei Menashe in Manipur and Mizoram.

It should be noted that in 1975, Rei promoted and advocated for Judaism in five locations. 1. Lungdai 2. Bilkhuatlir 3. Sihphir 4. Aizawl 5. Lengpui.

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Mizoram established a Jewish community on January 18, 1976, which rapidly expanded to hundreds of members. (A competing narrative exists concerning the origins of Judaism in Northeast India. Elders from Manipur claim that Judaism began in Manipur in 1976 and in Mizoram in 1978, while elders from Mizoram assert that Judaism originated in Manipur in 1974 and in Mizoram in 1976).

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Gideon Rei, a spiritual leader and chief Chazzan, concurrently visited Manipur and Mizoram to educate his community on Eretz Israel, Halakhot, Chumashim, and Midrashim.

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On January 15, 1997, he was afforded the opportunity to immigrate to Eretz Israel with his family via the Amishav organization, directed by the late Rabbi Eliyahu Avichail, of blessed memory.

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In 2006, he was appointed as an ambassador to Mizoram by the Shavei Israel Organization, under the direction of Tzvi Khaute, the Coordinator of Shavei Israel. He served as an emissary in Mizoram for twelve months.

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Gideon Rei, having fulfilled the role of a community leader until his advanced age, presently resides in Afula, situated in the northern region of Galilee.