Rabbi Ilan Goldman explores the mystery of the Ten Lost Tribes and their role in Am Yisrael’s destiny, redemption, and unity in our time.
One of the most fascinating historic and halakhic questions of our generation is the identity and fate of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, exiled from the Kingdom of Israel over 2,700 years ago.
The split of the united monarchy after King Solomon saw the tribes of Judah and Benjamin form the Kingdom of Judah, while the other ten tribes became the Kingdom of Israel. The northern kingdom quickly descended into sin and idolatry, leading to its destruction and exile 133 years before the destruction of the First Temple. From that point, their trail all but vanished—yet traces and traditions of them have persisted through Jewish history.
The Mishna in Sanhedrin preserves two famous opinions:
- Rabbi Akiva held that the ten tribes were lost forever, punished for their sins.
- Rabbi Eliezer believed they would one day return, comparing their fate to a cloudy day that eventually clears.
A third view, attributed to Rabbi Yochanan, suggests that the prophet Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) brought them back, where they assimilated into Judah—meaning today’s Jewish people already embody all twelve tribes.
Modern history has given this discussion renewed life. Some communities, like the Bnei Menashe in India and groups claiming descent from Dan, have been recognized by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate and even absorbed into the State of Israel. Others remain in doubt. Could these be remnants of the lost tribes re-emerging in our time?
The Maharal of Prague saw the drama of the tribes reflected in the story of Yosef and Yehuda:
- Yehuda sold Yosef—Judah sent Israel into exile.
- Yehuda and the brothers sought Yosef—Judah’s descendants will one day seek the lost tribes.
- The brothers failed to recognize Yosef at first—so too, the lost tribes will not be easily recognized when they return.
The message is clear: the redemption of Israel is not complete until all twelve tribes are gathered home. Each shevet carries unique qualities, and only when united can the nation fulfill its divine mission.
As Rabbi Goldman notes, the search for the lost tribes is not only about history—it is about destiny. The final geula (redemption) awaits the reunion of every fragment of Am Yisrael, from Yehuda to Yosef, from the visible tribes to those hidden in exile.
