Born in Jerusalem on January 21, 1932, Rabbi Eliyahu Avichail, z"l, was a talented educator who dedicated his life to a singular, monumental mission: locating and bringing home the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel.

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With the encouragement of his mentor, Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook, z"l, he journeyed across Central and South Asia to seek out the scattered remnants of our people. To anchor this work, he founded Amishav in 1982—a name meaning 'my people return.' His most prominent legacy lives on through the Bnei Menashe of India. Rabbi Avichail first investigated their lineage in the 1980s, named them the children of Menashe, and began teaching them traditional Jewish law and faith.

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His decades of devotion culminated in 2005, when the Chief Rabbinate of Israel formally recognized the Bnei Menashe's heritage, calling for a giyur le'chumra to solidify their return. Hundreds emigrated to Israel, undergoing the process and settling in Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip to reconnect with the land of Avraham, Yitzhaq, and Yaaqov.

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Rabbi Avichail’s extensive research is preserved in his six published books, which include vital guides on halakha for returning communities. He passed away on September 17, 2015, and is buried at Jerusalem's Har HaMenuchot Cemetery, leaving behind an enduring legacy of Jewish unity.