Daniel Thangkholun Lhungdim

Daniel Thangkholun Lhungdim was born in 1940 in Molnom Village, Churachandpur District, Manipur, India (erstwhile British India). He was the pioneer among the Bnei Menashe (commonly referred to as Kuki, Chin, Mizo, and Zomi) to study in-depth the Menashe tribe and their origin and roots as one of the lost tribes of Israel.

​Mr. Lhungdim began his research work on the Menashe tribe around 1960. The period of awareness about Judaism came in 1960 when the Christian publication of the Old Testament was made available to the Bnei Menashe. [It should be noted that the popularity of the Christian faith in Northeast India bestowed the Bnei Menashe a new dimension of hope to reclaim their true identity.]

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​With the Bible at their disposal, many Bnei Menashe households began initiating a new chain of thought namely the practice of their faith—due to the many similarities between ancient Israelites’ practices and their own customs, culture, and traditions.

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​As more and more people became interested in the Jewish religion, by the early 1960s, a number of individuals began exploring the lost tribe theory further. Thereafter, they became aware of the many similarities between the laws and customs of their forefathers and those written in the Bible.

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​T. Daniel Lhungdim (along with his research associates Samuel Sumkhothang Haokip and Yosef Jangkhothang Lhanghal) published "Israel Ihiuve"—literally "We are Israel"—in 1974. It is noteworthy that this work was the result of their long systematic research on the lost tribes of Israel, beginning in the early 1960s.

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T. Daniel Lhungdim, a thinker and poet, was headmaster of Gandhi Memorial High School in Molnom, Churachandpur (Manipur). His deep thirst and passion to find the roots of Manmasi led him to embrace Judaism, making him arguably the first to practice and revive Judaism in Northeast India among the Bnei Menashe.

The research work he undertook on the "Lost Tribe Theory" and the different ideologies he advanced led to misunderstandings and clashes of views with close kinsmen.

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The Shabbatical movement which he cherished created a new social milieu that was uncongenial for him, and finally, having no better choice, he left his home and in 1968.

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Abandoning his home, the wandering scholar was provided shelter by his next of kin, Mr. David Jamkhosem Lhungdim, the then-chief of Gelmol Village in Churachandpur.

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 T. Daniel was fortunate enough to be in the company of the chief, who shared the same opinion on faith. The chief rekindled his spirit by encouraging him to continue his research work and also pledged to sponsor his project. At that time in Gelmol Village, some families had begun wearing Jewish religious skullcaps, making the village one of the first places in Churachandpur to observe semi-Judaism.

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Thereupon, T. Daniel was able to embark on research field trips to Calcutta and Bombay, visiting libraries and meeting people in the later part of the 1960s. In 1974, three men met in a photo studio called "The Lion Photo Studio." They were: (1) T. Daniel Lhungdim, (2) Jangkhothang Joseph Lhanghal, and (3) Sumthang Samuel Haokip. The trio had been researching the Bible and the origins of the Kuki tribes. The fruit of their research was the publication of the book "Israel Ihiuve" ("We are Israel"), which was an instant success and became a talking point among the Kukis in Manipur.

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​The studio was founded in 1971 in New Bazaar, Churachandpur. It was later renamed Judean Photo Studio in 1976. In Northeast India, Judaism originated in Manipur, specifically in the town of Churachandpur. From this small town, the light of the original Abrahamic religion—Judaism—humbly spread to other parts of Northeast India and then to the Chin State of Myanmar (then Burma).

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The success of the book disrupted the lives and livelihoods of its 3 authors. T. Daniel was dismissed from his position as Principal at Molnom High School, Shemuel Sumthang lost his teaching position, and Yosef Lhanghal resigned from his pastoral role in the Church of God. Since their kinsmen were ardent believers of Jesus who believe that the Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus.

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​As noted earlier, since the early 1960s, with the initiation of the Sabbatical movement, some households in Old Gelmol Village began wearing kippot (skullcaps). The establishment of the first religious-based Jewish organization, Manipur Jews Organisation, was followed by the founding of another organization, the United Jews of Northeast India (UJNEI). Though these organizations derived their religious doctrines from the Torah, their core beliefs were still based solely on the "savior Jesus."

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​The year 1973 saw another trip by T. Daniel to Calcutta and Bombay, this time accompanied by Israel Ginjamung Suantak. Upon his return to Manipur, T. Daniel reported to MJO (Manipur Jews Organization), three principal messages that he had learnt from his trips to Bombay, namely:

1. Judaism is the religion of the Jews,

2. Circumcision is obligatory for Jewish males and also for converts, and

3. Jews do not believe in nor recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

 

Many members of Manipur Jews Organization (MJO) which was founded on 15 august 1972 with the aim of observing biblical laws such as Shabbat and abstaining from non kosher animals rejected T. Daniel's message since they firmly believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

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Thus on 10 October 1974, the United Jews of North East India (UJNEI) was established, the main focus of its founders being to foster Jewish observances among the Chin, Kuki and Mizo groups.

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Unfortunately, the UJNEI succumbed to the same divisions that had led to the demise of the MJO. With members holding divergent religious perspectives and beliefs, it ultimately split apart in January 1975.

T. Daniel maintain the UJNEI with his close associates with the backing of its senior member Yosef Lhanghal and Shemuel Sumthang, Yonatan Touthang and David Jamkhosem Lhungdim, they distanced themselves from Christian beliefs and sought to move closer to Jewish practice.

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That year, 1975, the UJNEI once more sent T. Daniel to Bombay, to further his studies into Judaism. Whilst in Bombay, T. Daniel sent back telegrams to the community, with details such as how to conduct Kiddush, Havdalah and various blessings, prompting those interested to gather on Shabbat to study the material he provided.

While Miriam, daughter of Yosef Lhanghal, taught the children a blessing recited for various occasions, Yonathan Touthang instructed the elderly in the proper ways to conduct kiddush and havdala using details sent by Daniel from Bombay.

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In February 1976, at the behest of the UJNEI, T. Daniel made yet another trip to Bombay. There, with the generous support of a Jewish philanthropist, Mrs. Esther Immanuel, Mr. Lhungdim—along with Moshe Yitzchak Gin Vaiphei and his family—underwent brit milah (Jewish male circumcision). The brit was performed by Dr. B. Kollet, who was highly trained in the field of circumcision.

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​When Mr. Lhungdim returned from Bombay that same year (April 1976), which coincided with the intermediate days of Passover (Chol Hamoed Pesach), he brought home a Sefer Torah (Torah scroll), tallitot (prayer shawls), tefillin (phylacteries), prayer books, and Jewish Halachic texts, among other items. The day mark the rebirth of Judaism among the Bnei Menashe.

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​It could be said that only after his return from Bombay that year did the Jewish religion begin to be observed practically for the first time by the Bnei Menashe—at least in accordance with the general laws of Judaism.

It should be noted that it was his enthusiastic and tireless work that connected the Bnei Menashe with other Jewish communities around the world.

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 He built bridges for the Bnei Menashe community and remained in contact with the Bene Israel in Bombay and with Rabbi Efraim Eliazeri, z"l, the then-Chief Rabbi of the Indian Jewish community. Through this connection, eligible youngsters were able to study Judaism and receive professional vocational training at ORT Bombay.

 

Connection with the Jewish world

On January 23, 1974 (29th Teveth 5734), Rabbi Efraim sent a letter to Daniel Lhungdim indicating that he had received the 15 books sent to him and was corresponding with Israel regarding the Bnei Menashe.

 

However, the Rabbi noted that he had no authority over any actions, if any, that the Rabbis in Israel might take regarding the recognition of your claims to Jewish identity.

Daniel Lhungdim has been imploring the Jewish community to acknowledge their Jewish identity around 1973 after meeting with Rabbi Eliazri Efraim.

On May 6, 1974, he sent a letter to Rabbi Efraim, the leader of the Orthodox congregation in India, imploring him to organize a minimum of four individuals to visit Israel and study Judaism comprehensively.

He requested materials from the Israel Information Centre at 214 Yaffo Road, Jerusalem, P.O.B. 13010, with the telephone number 533676, where he was advised by Joan Cooper to directly contact the Consulate General of Israel in Bombay. He received the letter on November 24, 1976.

 
On August 4, 1977, Chaim Divon, Vice Consul of the Consulate of Israel, addressed a correspondence to him, reference number 104.1, indicating that the consulate had not heard from him for an extended period. The letter urged him to respond upon receipt.

 

The communication had been disrupted due to challenges in postal delivery from a remote area in Manipur. Notably, the letter indicated that Daniel Lhungdim received it on August 13, 1977, much to his disappointment.

On January 19, 1978, Daniel dispatched a letter of appreciation to Mr. Sperm of the Lubavitcher Youth Organization, located at 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York 11213, acknowledging the receipt of eight tzitzit and two prayer books on October 17, 1977.

He sent a letter of acknowledgment upon receiving a cassette recording of the Jewish roots on January 21, 1978, to Miss Esther Jungreis, President of HINENI, 440 Hungry Harbor Road, North Woodmere. New York, 11581, United States of America.

 

In addition, Daniel Lhungdim was a member of the Indo-Israel Friendship League starting in 1972, and he corresponded with various Jewish organizations; the letters he received are preserved in the Bnei Menashe Gallery Museum in Sderoth Brith Arim 16.

 

 Final days

On June 11, 1998, Daniel Lhungdim passed away without realizing his aspiration to settle in Israel. He composed numerous songs expressing his affection for the land of Eretz Israel, and to this day, his songs resonate vibrantly among the Bnei Menashe. His legacy and contributions will endure eternally in the hearts of Bnei Menashe.

Despite not deserving to witness the Land of Israel, which he held dear throughout his life, his wife, Rivka Lhungdim, z"l, and his three daughters, Rakhel Wisky, Esther Shatz, and Nira Haokip, along with their families, were all fortunate to reside in the Promised Land.