Searching for the Ten Lost Tribes

The Years: Since their exile. The Places: Countless. The Chances: During the ingathering of exiles.

After the death of King Solomon, his kingdom split. The ten tribes separated from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, along with the Kohanim and Levites, forming the Kingdom of Israel in the north. However, they were exiled by the King of Assyria, and their traces were lost. As narrated by the prophets, they were settled in regions called: "Halah, Habor, the Gozan River, and the cities of the Medes." The Midrash adds that they went beyond the Sambatyon River. But where is this river? Where is the land of the ten tribes? This mystery has long captivated the remaining Jewish people.

In the ninth century, Eldad the Danite, from the tribe of Dan, emerged, claiming that four tribes were in one place—Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher—and essentially, all ten tribes had settled in the Arabian Peninsula. Other traditions link the ten tribes and the area of their exile to Afghanistan.

In fact, today many communities worldwide identify themselves with the ten tribes, including those who are now an integral part of the Jewish people. For instance, Jews from the Caucasus Mountains, or other groups who were disconnected from the Jewish people for many years, have only recently re-established connections. Some have even received halachic affirmation and recognition, such as the community of Ethiopian Jews—Beta Israel—who claim descent from the tribe of Dan. This lineage was confirmed by the great Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and under his authority, they were brought to the Land of Israel.

Similarly, the community of 'Bnei Israel' in India, who claim heritage from the tribe of Asher and the priestly tribes, have received halachic affirmation. The Bnei Menashe, living in northern India, were also provided such recognition after Rabbi Shlomo Amar's visit. Other accounts link the Lemba tribes in South Africa, the Pathans in Afghanistan, the Kashmiris in Pakistan, and the descendants of the Jews of Kaifeng in China to the ten tribes.

Several communities in Samarkand and central Asia are also identified as potential locations for the ten tribes. More far-reaching speculations suggest that even certain Native American tribes in the United States might be descendants of the ten tribes, and there is even a claim that the Japanese, especially the nobles and the Shinto precursors, could have such lineage. However, as noted, the evidence supporting these claims is quite scant.

Even though some of the testimonies present in Israel today have been halachically recognized as related to the ten tribes, the enigma remains unresolved. Every so often, an adventurous 'traveler' appears, claiming to have found more of them. Recently, there were even suggestions that some members of the Taliban in Afghanistan might belong to these tribes. All we can do is hope for the day when the exiled from Assyria and those lost from around the globe will return.