The Ten Lost Tribes: A World History

Episode 1: Prof. Zvi Ben-Dor Benite

The second longest episode in SeforimChatter podcast history at 2 hours and 29 minutes, and an overview on an entire subject, how did this episode come to be?

As outlined here, once I decided to record a series about The Lost Tribes it was time to begin planning and outlining the series. As this is the third series on the podcast, I’ve become somewhat acquainted with the process, which requires me to: establish the topics to be covered in the series, find potential guests who have researched and written on each topic, reach out to those potential guests to gauge their interest in appearing on the podcast, set up the recording dates and times, and prepare for each individual episode.

As often happens in these situations, I started backwards. I knew of the story of Eldad HaDani (stay tuned for more on him in the coming weeks) and, on the recommendation of Prof. Rebekka Voß I reached out to Dr. Micha Perry to discuss Eldad. Dr. Perry wrote a fabulous book on Eldad (again, stay tuned!), so I ordered that book and settled down to read it. As I read the book the same reference kept recurring: Prof. Zvi Ben-Dor Benite and his book, “The Lost Tribes: A World History.”

Although I don’t know nearly all Jewish history titles, I do know a fair number, especially the newer ones. So, it came as a surprise to me when I came across this seemingly (newish) classic book that I had simply never heard of. Moreover, when I asked knowledgeable friends about the book, they too were clueless about it.

Intrigued, I did as I often do: I ordered the book and sent a blind email to Prof. Benite, and well, let me tell you, I was in for a treat!

Prof. Benite quickly responded, and his response was, “Here is my number, call me.” This response isn’t very common. Usually it’s emails back and forth until we set up a Zoom call to record the podcast. Yet, as I am not one to turn down a phone conversation I called Prof. Benite. What followed was a 45-minute schmooze about everything Lost Tribes related and I was sold- I had found my opener for the series.

As football fans know, the first offensive drive of the game comes from a set of scripted plays (unlike the rest of the game which is called by the offensive coordinator based on game specific circumstances). Similarly, I have learned that the opener of every podcast series needs to follow a successful script: a learned, insightful and engaging guest so that the series can start with a bang. Indeed, the Shabsai Zvi series had Prof. Matt Goldish, who give a terrific overview, and the Spanish Jewry series had Prof. Jonathan Ray. Speaking to Prof. Benite convinced me that he was the one to open the Lost Tribes Series.

Despite Prof. Benite’s eagerness (he requested that we record the very next day!), I had to wait for my copy of his book to arrive and read it in order to be able to adequately prepare myself.

When the book arrived later in the week and I began to read, I quickly realized just how chock-full of information it was. Like many readers, I was familiar with various parts of the overall story. Yet, this book began with an overview of “place” and what it meant for the tribes to be “lost” and why so many searched for them over the centuries. The book then tackled Tanach and the original sources for the Ten Lost Tribes (apocrypha, medrashei chazal, Roman historians, Talmud) before even getting to the history of Eldad HaDani (the Danite) in the 9th century.

The book discusses the mysterious Eldad HaDani and his appearance in Kairouan (modern day Tunisia) in the 9th century, with the assertion that he was of the tribe of Dan. Eldad claimed that he only spoke Hebrew, and had his own laws that he would relate, “So said Hashem to Moshe and Moshe to Yehoshua.” The community subsequently sent a letter to Rav Tzemach Gaon in Babylon attempting to determine the authenticity of Eldad’s claim.

Also discussed is the notorious David Reuveni, who appears in Italy in the 16th century. Reueveni claimed that he was a general and the brother of King Joseph, the king of the tribes of Reueven, Gad, and half of Menashe. A colorful character who sadly met his demise at the stake a number of decades letter, Reueveni met with the Pope, the king of Portugal and other notable European figures own the time as he attempted to raise an army to conquer Israel from the Muslims. during his trip to Portugal, Reuveni inspired the converse Diego Pires to circumcise himself and return to judaism and assume the name Shlomo Molcho. Molcho (who Rabbi Yosef Karos’ Maggid famously dubbed “Shlomo Chavivi”) joined forces with Reuveni and would also meet his demise at the stake.

Next up the book discusses Antonio de Montezinos (Ahron HaLevi) & Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel in the 17th century Dutch Amsterdam. Montezinos, a converso, returned to Amsterdamand regaled the Spanish-Portugese Jewish community with tales of finding the tribe of Reueven in South America. This story led Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel, the celebrated Dutch Rabbi, to compose a work titled “The Hope of Israel” in which he analyzed the plausibility Hebraic Indian Theory (the idea that Native Americans were in fact the one Lost Tribes.). The book also discusses the Mormons, and finally, the legend into modernity.

All of these topics will be explored in-depth on the podcast and substack in the coming weeks, but I wanted to provide listeners with a complete overview before delving into the nitty gritty aspect of each story.

The book is well written, engaging, and offers a full, broad picture of the Ten Lost Tribes legend and the interaction Jews and non-Jews have had with it over time. To its credit, despite that, the book comes in under 400 pages and does not feel like a daunting read at all.

Purchase the Ten Lost Tribes: A World History here and listen to Prof. Zvi Ben-Dor Benite on the podcast here.