The plates contained the Book of Mormon, the secret history of a native people of America, who turned out to be lost tribes of Israel.

NEWYORKER: I, Nephi

Michael Freund, director of Amishav - an organisation that helps Jews move to Israel - says he firmly believes that Menashe is one of the lost tribes of Israel.

BBC: Inside the Manipur synagogue

According to the community, the Bnei Menashe are one of the lost 10 tribes of Israel who were exiled when Assyrians invaded the northern kingdom of Israel in the 8th Century BC.

BBC: Bnei Menashe say they are one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel