Rabbi Eliyahu Avichail z"l was born in Jerusalem on January 21, 1932. A talented educator, he dedicated most of his life to researching and bringing back the ten lost tribes of Israel.

​

In 1982 he founded the Amishav on behalf of the dispersed of Israel organization; the name derives from Hebrew words ami - my people and shav - return. Encouraged by his teacher Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook z"l, Rabbi Avichail z"l travelled the world, primarily focusing on Central and South Asia, in his quest to reunite the dispersed of Israel. It is thanks to his tremendous efforts that Bnei Menashe of India found their way back to the land of our fathers Avraham, Yitzhaq and Yaaqov. 

 

In the 1980's rabbi Eliyahu Avichail z"l investigated this group's claims of Jewish descent. He named the group Bnei Menashe and started teaching them proper Judaism. In 2005, moved by the group's devotion to Jewish practice, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel accepted their claims and required members of the community to undergo giyur lekhumra (formal conversion) in order to complete the process of reunification with the nation of Israel. Hundreds of Bnei Menashe emigrated to Israel completing the formal conversion there. The community settled in Yehuda, Shomron and in the Gaza strip.

          

Rabbi Avichail z"l wrote 6 books on the tribes, including a guide on Judaism and Jewish laws for those who want to return to the original faith of their ancestors.

 

He passed away on September 17, 2015 and is buried at Har HaMenuchot Cemetery, in Jerusalem.