- Family and Society
- Ways of Redemption
Ten "lost tribes" of Israel
Question
Dear Rabbi,
I thought that the so-called "ten lost tribes of Israel" was just story?
What about the Levites? (in shuls they always asks for a Cohen or a Levite), doesn’t that mean that the tribe of Levi is not lost?
When did they get lost?
Kind regards, shalom, Gerhard
Answer
Shalom Gerhard,
The Tanach (Bible) itself tells us that Sanhereb, king of Assyria, exiled the ten tribes more than 100 years before the destruction of the First Temple (Kings II, 17, 6, about the year 700 BCE), and since then, they have generally not been heard from. Accordingly, most Jews today are from the tribe of Judah (hence, the name “Jew’) and some from Benjamin and S(h)imon, Judah’s neighbors. The exception are those particular Kohens and Levites, who lived among Judah (they always lived spread out in 48 cities among the different tribes, because they were not allotted a portion of the Land, to free them to teach Torah), and therefore were not exiled with the ten tribes. Interestingly, the Jews from Ethiopia have a tradition, upheld by many rabbis, that they are from Dan, which is one of the lost ten tribes.
With Love of Israel!
Rav Ari Shvat

Solomans third temple
Rabbi David Sperling | Elul 8, 5773

Why does G-d start something & then say wait?
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 20 Sivan 5763

gematriyot- number cycles and equations
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Iyyar 10, 5772

End Times
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 27 Tammuz 5765

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Fasting or giving Tzedaka on seeing Sefer Torah fallen
Shevat 7, 5771

Bircat baalat habayit 2
Adar I 23, 5771

Goyim at Shul/hashkafah of Shul
Adar II 1, 5771

Delaying aliya for career and studies
Adar II 25, 5771

Bracha at cemetery
Various Rabbis | 7 Nisan 5766

Mikvah for unmarried women
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 16 Tevet 5766

Mezuzah for a Catholic Family?
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 15, 5779

Kosher yoga
Rabbi David Sperling | Av 12, 5776
Tenach Melochim
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Iyyar 16, 5782

Trimming the beard
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 16, 5782

negiah with niece - level of prohibition
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 21, 5782
