LLOYD: In the state of Mizoram, Christians dominate because of a quirk of history. Welsh missionaries who came here in the 19th century left their mark across the city The state capital, Aizawl, wouldnt look out of place in western Europe.
Here in this Christian enclave in a Hindu nation there is an even stranger twist of faith In recent years, thousands of god-fearing Christians have converted to Judaism.
This synagogue is much more popular than it used to be. For the Jews of Mizoram claim a special heritage. They say they are descendants of one of the legendary 12 lost tribe of Israel which the Old Testament, tells us went into exile thousands of years ago.
RUTH: I was born in a Christian family before and then eventually my father was more interested, more interested in Judaism, so we all go to the Judaism religion. Our whole family.
LLOYD: Her name at birth was Sailopari. But now this 22 year old woman goes by the distinctly un-Indian name of Ruth. Growing up Jewish in a Christian town wasnt easy.
RUTH: The other kids, they used to tease us, because
in Mizoram, Christianity is very popular and they dont, they barely understand the other religion, so they used to tease us and that.
LLOYD: Mizorams Jews say the rituals and traditions of this part of India are similar to those practiced in ancient Israel. Among them, the building of altars, animal sacrifice, marriage customs and a belief in an all powerful deity.
Hardly a scientific basis for converting, you might think, but it is faith now backed by DNA evidence.
BASHWAR: The genetic material which is present in todays Jewish population, like Ashkenazi Jews or Sephardic Jews - the Israelites, and the Mizoram population has some common DNA sequence which is found in both todays Jewish population and the Mizoram tribes.
LLOYD: Genetic scientist, Bhaswar Maity, collected samples that did indeed show a Jewish bloodline in Mizoram. But it was weak and only in women.
LLOYD: What percentage chance do you give these people they are really the lost tribe of Israel.
BASHWAR: It is difficult to say for me.
LLOYD: So even though you did the test, and even though you found some connections, youre still sitting on the fence?
BASHWAR: Yah. True!
Music
LLOYD: It was proof enough for Israels rabbis and the Jews of Mizoram. They say the bloodline of this modern-day Indian territory traces directly back to the ancient tribe of Manasseh, which was banished from biblical Israel by Assyrian invaders in the 8th century BC.
Conversions took off when an orthodox Israeli Jewish group began sponsoring Mizoram Jews to Israel.
According to local legend, the remnants of this tribe of Israel made their way to China around 1000 years ago, where they lived in a cave called Chinlung. Then, over the centuries, they made their way to present day India, Burma, and Bangladesh.
Music
LLOYD: Christian Mizoram isnt taking the challenge lying down. Locals practice their faith with evangelical zeal not normally seen in South Asia. To these people, Jesus is the only choice. And followers who stray from the path are treated with contempt reserved for heretics. In fact, thats exactly the word theyre using around here. The Reverend Chuauthuama (Chow-twama) is the Presbyterian Churchs
official sceptic on the States supposed Jewish heritage.
CHUAUTHUAMA: This is heretical teaching.
LLOYD: Heretical?
CHUAUTHUAMA: Heretical teaching yes. To lead the way, those Christian from Christianity not to believe in Christ, but to return to Judaism. That is heretical teaching in my opinion.
All these things in their argument are in my opinion are wishful thinking. LLOYD: Wishful thinking?
CHUAUTHUAMA: Yeah.
LLOYD: Thats a view youd perhaps expect from a church thats already lost 6000 parishioners to Judaism.
CHUAUTHUAMA: If we consider the overall population, the Mizoram Presbyterian church, consists of more than 50% of the total population of Mizoram.
Music
LLOYD: The challenge to religious identity is everywhere. Converts to Judaism proudly advertise on shopfronts around Aizawl.
Christians hit back with declarations of their faith.
If Reverend Chauthauma has an opposite number in this battle for hearts and minds its Elizabeth Zoding. A Jewish convert, Elizabeth writes books espousing the links between ancient Israel and Mizoram. She is a self-styled proselytiser, with no time for the other side.
ELIZABETH: They are very active, these Christians.
They visit their members. and they know them one by one.
LLOYD: Elizabeth Zoding converted 18 years ago but shes still waiting for permission for her family to emigrate. Decisions on who is chosen to go, and who stays behind appear to be made in secret, by rabbis in Israel. If Elizabeth is disappointed, it doesnt show in her determination to challenge Christians.
ELIZABETH: They never defeat me. I defeat them. Thats why they hate me.
Music
LLOYD: Its the night of the Sabbath in the Hnamte household. Under Israeli law, every Jew around the world enjoys the right of return to the Promised Land. Several hundred Mizoram Jews have already emigrated. Now, Ruth Hnamte wants to join them.
RUTH: They say it is a very great place. Its very holy. Everything is there.
They can practice the religion, in full swing. Much more than here. Where it is very hard to do all of the things here that they can normally do there.
LLOYD: Some relatives have already gone.
RUTH: This is my grandfather. Thats my grandma.
LLOYD: Whos that?
RUTH: Thats my cousin. His name is Reno. He was in the army for the past three years.
LLOYD: Military service is compulsory; even for new arrivals.
LLOYD: Has it crossed your mind that in Israel you have to do national service, youve got to join the army?
RUTH: Yeah, yeah.
LLOYD: What do you think about that ?
RUTH: Well. In that case. If I have a chance, well I would like to go there too , I would like to do that, too.
LLOYD: Arent you scared about that?
RUTH: A little bit, just a little bit.
LLOYD: Ruth Hnamate may want to do national service but its not because she wants to fight. Instead, she thinks Israel should share territory with Palestinians.
RUTH: They just fight for their beliefs too,
you know, as much as Israeli people fight for their beliefs too. Thats the way I see it .
LLOYD: Do you think they should have territory, do you think they should be allowed to live peacefully with the Israelis?
RUTH: Well yes I think, I think thats the only way thats the only solution to peace over there.
LLOYD: Online chat rooms bridge the Hnamte family divide.
Ruth is worried about fitting in, in Israel, and finding a job as a beauty therapist. She doesnt try to disguise her hopes for a better life.
RUTH: Here, in Mizoram in India, its hard, you know. Life is very hard, because you cant just go out there and get a job. Like its a developing country, its very hard.
In developed countries where you can find jobs that are easy and survive there, so thats why I want go there.
Music
LLOYD: Whatever the motivation, Israel has accepted the Mizoram Jews as descendants of a biblical lost tribe. It sees their conversion and eventual return to the Promised Land as closing the circle on 3000 years of history.
Music
Reporter: Peter Lloyd
Camera: Wayne McAllister
Editor: Garth Thomas
Producer: Simi Chakrabarti
Here in this Christian enclave in a Hindu nation there is an even stranger twist of faith In recent years, thousands of god-fearing Christians have converted to Judaism.
This synagogue is much more popular than it used to be. For the Jews of Mizoram claim a special heritage. They say they are descendants of one of the legendary 12 lost tribe of Israel which the Old Testament, tells us went into exile thousands of years ago.
RUTH: I was born in a Christian family before and then eventually my father was more interested, more interested in Judaism, so we all go to the Judaism religion. Our whole family.
LLOYD: Her name at birth was Sailopari. But now this 22 year old woman goes by the distinctly un-Indian name of Ruth. Growing up Jewish in a Christian town wasnt easy.
RUTH: The other kids, they used to tease us, because
in Mizoram, Christianity is very popular and they dont, they barely understand the other religion, so they used to tease us and that.
LLOYD: Mizorams Jews say the rituals and traditions of this part of India are similar to those practiced in ancient Israel. Among them, the building of altars, animal sacrifice, marriage customs and a belief in an all powerful deity.
Hardly a scientific basis for converting, you might think, but it is faith now backed by DNA evidence.
BASHWAR: The genetic material which is present in todays Jewish population, like Ashkenazi Jews or Sephardic Jews - the Israelites, and the Mizoram population has some common DNA sequence which is found in both todays Jewish population and the Mizoram tribes.
LLOYD: Genetic scientist, Bhaswar Maity, collected samples that did indeed show a Jewish bloodline in Mizoram. But it was weak and only in women.
LLOYD: What percentage chance do you give these people they are really the lost tribe of Israel.
BASHWAR: It is difficult to say for me.
LLOYD: So even though you did the test, and even though you found some connections, youre still sitting on the fence?
BASHWAR: Yah. True!
Music
LLOYD: It was proof enough for Israels rabbis and the Jews of Mizoram. They say the bloodline of this modern-day Indian territory traces directly back to the ancient tribe of Manasseh, which was banished from biblical Israel by Assyrian invaders in the 8th century BC.
Conversions took off when an orthodox Israeli Jewish group began sponsoring Mizoram Jews to Israel.
According to local legend, the remnants of this tribe of Israel made their way to China around 1000 years ago, where they lived in a cave called Chinlung. Then, over the centuries, they made their way to present day India, Burma, and Bangladesh.
Music
LLOYD: Christian Mizoram isnt taking the challenge lying down. Locals practice their faith with evangelical zeal not normally seen in South Asia. To these people, Jesus is the only choice. And followers who stray from the path are treated with contempt reserved for heretics. In fact, thats exactly the word theyre using around here. The Reverend Chuauthuama (Chow-twama) is the Presbyterian Churchs
official sceptic on the States supposed Jewish heritage.
CHUAUTHUAMA: This is heretical teaching.
LLOYD: Heretical?
CHUAUTHUAMA: Heretical teaching yes. To lead the way, those Christian from Christianity not to believe in Christ, but to return to Judaism. That is heretical teaching in my opinion.
All these things in their argument are in my opinion are wishful thinking. LLOYD: Wishful thinking?
CHUAUTHUAMA: Yeah.
LLOYD: Thats a view youd perhaps expect from a church thats already lost 6000 parishioners to Judaism.
CHUAUTHUAMA: If we consider the overall population, the Mizoram Presbyterian church, consists of more than 50% of the total population of Mizoram.
Music
LLOYD: The challenge to religious identity is everywhere. Converts to Judaism proudly advertise on shopfronts around Aizawl.
Christians hit back with declarations of their faith.
If Reverend Chauthauma has an opposite number in this battle for hearts and minds its Elizabeth Zoding. A Jewish convert, Elizabeth writes books espousing the links between ancient Israel and Mizoram. She is a self-styled proselytiser, with no time for the other side.
ELIZABETH: They are very active, these Christians.
They visit their members. and they know them one by one.
LLOYD: Elizabeth Zoding converted 18 years ago but shes still waiting for permission for her family to emigrate. Decisions on who is chosen to go, and who stays behind appear to be made in secret, by rabbis in Israel. If Elizabeth is disappointed, it doesnt show in her determination to challenge Christians.
ELIZABETH: They never defeat me. I defeat them. Thats why they hate me.
Music
LLOYD: Its the night of the Sabbath in the Hnamte household. Under Israeli law, every Jew around the world enjoys the right of return to the Promised Land. Several hundred Mizoram Jews have already emigrated. Now, Ruth Hnamte wants to join them.
RUTH: They say it is a very great place. Its very holy. Everything is there.
They can practice the religion, in full swing. Much more than here. Where it is very hard to do all of the things here that they can normally do there.
LLOYD: Some relatives have already gone.
RUTH: This is my grandfather. Thats my grandma.
LLOYD: Whos that?
RUTH: Thats my cousin. His name is Reno. He was in the army for the past three years.
LLOYD: Military service is compulsory; even for new arrivals.
LLOYD: Has it crossed your mind that in Israel you have to do national service, youve got to join the army?
RUTH: Yeah, yeah.
LLOYD: What do you think about that ?
RUTH: Well. In that case. If I have a chance, well I would like to go there too , I would like to do that, too.
LLOYD: Arent you scared about that?
RUTH: A little bit, just a little bit.
LLOYD: Ruth Hnamate may want to do national service but its not because she wants to fight. Instead, she thinks Israel should share territory with Palestinians.
RUTH: They just fight for their beliefs too,
you know, as much as Israeli people fight for their beliefs too. Thats the way I see it .
LLOYD: Do you think they should have territory, do you think they should be allowed to live peacefully with the Israelis?
RUTH: Well yes I think, I think thats the only way thats the only solution to peace over there.
LLOYD: Online chat rooms bridge the Hnamte family divide.
Ruth is worried about fitting in, in Israel, and finding a job as a beauty therapist. She doesnt try to disguise her hopes for a better life.
RUTH: Here, in Mizoram in India, its hard, you know. Life is very hard, because you cant just go out there and get a job. Like its a developing country, its very hard.
In developed countries where you can find jobs that are easy and survive there, so thats why I want go there.
Music
LLOYD: Whatever the motivation, Israel has accepted the Mizoram Jews as descendants of a biblical lost tribe. It sees their conversion and eventual return to the Promised Land as closing the circle on 3000 years of history.
Music
Reporter: Peter Lloyd
Camera: Wayne McAllister
Editor: Garth Thomas
Producer: Simi Chakrabarti