Introduction

Ten Lost Tribes

and Their Places

Upon retiring from professional life, Avigdor Shahan, a prolific
writer, historian, and educator, embarked on the greatest journey of his
life: following in the footsteps of the ten lost tribes. The ensuing voyage
culminated in a book,El ‘Ever ha-Sambatyon(Towards the Sambatyon),
which is half a history of the tribes and half a travelogue for which
Shahan had a deeply personal impetus. As he explains:

I was eight years old [in 1940 ] when our teacher at the

traditional Jewish school told us with trembling voice about

the exile of the ten tribes: Reuben, Shimon, Zebulun,

Yissachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Ephraim, and

Manasseh—by the kings of Assyria and their cruel soldiers.

He described the formidable river they crossed in their

wanderings, theSambatyon;and the fearsome mountains of

darkness behind which they disappeared. He told us about

that great country where they live a life of freedom and liberty;

the commanders of their armies alert and ready, their swords

sparkling, and their legions ordered in columns behind their

banners and flags.

The young pupils, children of the Jewish quarter of Komarov,
Romania, listened with “breathless anticipation.” Finally, one of
them exclaimed, “Why don’t we send messengers to let them know
about our misery?”