Ages ago ten Israelite tribes were expelled from their land by the Assyrians and disappeared forever. Until recently I thought one of the lost tribes might actually have resurfaced, right here in Iceland.
As bizarre as it may sound, this is not a Jewish conspiracy to claim this land and its natural resources, but a story I once heard from an insurance sales agent who came to my house trying to persuade me to buy life insurance.
As any good sales person who knows their job, the sales agent started with a “breaking the ice” conversation topic, which is necessary to make the client feel more comfortable so that it is more likely that he or she signs the papers at the end of the sale process.
After I told the insurance agent that I’m from Israel, he asked the mandatory question: “How do you like Iceland?” And I answered: “very much.”
I sometimes fantasize about replying, “I don’t really like it here” just to see what the reaction will be, but I do want to be honest and tell the truth.
While we were talking, the sales agent told me two interesting things:
Firstly that Iceland was the first country to vote on the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine about the division of the western portion of the British Mandate of Palestine into two provisional states, one Jewish and one Arab. The act led to the establishment of the state of Israel.
And secondly (that came almost as a whisper) that Icelanders are probably one of the lost tribes of Israel. "At least that’s I want to believe," he added.
I was surprised by his remarks, especially about the second one. I refrained from asking whether he was Jewish, thinking: "This guy is really desperate to sell."
A while later I found out that the guy had been right about the first part; Iceland was indeed the first country to vote on the UN 181 resolution. It was genuine remark and it made me think that maybe he was right about the second thing as well. Maybe Icelanders really are one of the lost tribes of Israel?
This idea kept haunting me for some time and even though I didn't expect to make any big historic discoveries, I decided to do my own little investigation to see what I could find out about the subject.
A few attempts to find more resources about this theory online didn’t bring any results so I quickly gave up the whole idea and dismissed it at the guy’s own wishful thinking.
Icelanders, so it seems, are descents of Vikings and Celts, not Middle Eastern tribes. Finding my Hebrew roots in Iceland is definitely not something I expected before I came here, so I can’t really say that I’m disappointed.
I think the insurance guy shouldn't be disappointed either. At the moment Iceland has enough trouble for itself, so why raising more? Throwing this small and peaceful island directly to the "Who Is a Jew?" question is really not necessary.
Iceland is a land of many myths. I realized that when I first opened a tourist map, like the ones you can have for free at any tourist information (which is also the one used by the editor of Iceland Review Online). Trolls, ghosts and sea monsters can be spotted in different locations across the island.
As much as I’m fond of Icelandic stories and myths, I think that the lost tribe of Iceland tale is one myth too many, even for Iceland.
And in case you’re wondering about my life insurance status, I am still looking to get one. But that’s a different story.
Published in Iceland Review May 20, 2009.
17 comments:
While I was reading the post I remembered the version that Reuven tribe is in Ethiopia, which could be more possible. But at the same time I thought about the cultural diversity we have in Israel and receiving Icelanders would make it more interesting...
Now tell me, how come you find yourself in these kind of situations...?
I guess it has to do to the fact you're probably the only Israeli in your village, as well to your personal charm (that I have the honor to know) but there's certainly something more, like these stories "chase" after you. Besides, you have the great ability of pouring them into words, and it makes the reading fascinating.
Cheers, I'm going to Yom Hastudent!!!!
Neshikot for y'all!!
At least something good came out of the time spent with the sales men. Great work baby.
Which way did Iceland vote on 181 -- up or down? And if Iceland WAS one of the lost tribes, which do you figure it was?
We hear this same load of horse manure in the U.S. from time to time because the Book of Mormon teaches that the American Indians descended from Laman who lived around the time of the Babylonian captivity and was head of one (or more) of the ten lost tribes. There are theories about the ten lost tribes going many other places, too, but the most laughable one is the idea of the American aboriginal people. The mainstream Christians in the U.S. (who secretly despise the Mormons) are actually doing DNA tests on our native peoples to disprove the Book of Mormon. I guess the thin facial hair and the lack of any semitic language cognates in any aboriginal language or the absence of any knowledge of metallurgy were not obvious enough . . . oh, see what you got me into. I'm a Roman Catholic; I'm so screwed up by religion that I ought to be in therapy for my next three lives.
I think in the deep sense, everyone secretly despise everyone else, only there are some of us more easily despised.
I always thought the Indian chiefs look little bit like Rabbis, without the beard, the yarmulke and the black cloths. Maybe because when they smoke their peace pipe they look like an orthodox Jew praying.
Excellent! Rabbis and council chiefs are both contemplative people, for sure.
The most socially redeeming thing about Catholicism is that we are taught to despise ourselves before all others.
this "legend" has some roots in some readings i have come across as well...
one was called "great britain and america in biblical prophecy", or similar name....,
interesting tie in to God's promises to Israel... though "delayed" because of continued disobedience.... anyway this book also claimed that the Danube river, Denmark, etc... were named due to the travels and remnants of the tribe of Dan.
anyway, fyi...
Sorry to ruffle your feathers but there is a very GOOD chance your
insurance agent was RIGHT. I have read many books on the lost tribes & I
will spare you the details. The tribes of Manassah & Ephraim are thought
to have settled in what is now the British Isles. The tribe of DAN is
thought to have settled in Scandinavia particularly Denmark. The Danish
refer to their country as DANmark--then their is th DANube River etc.
You SHOULD know that Iceland was under Danish rule for many years. You
don't have to be a rocket scientist to put the 2 together. Your agent
would be interested to know all this. You STUMBLED onto the truth with
this one.
As I said in the column. I do believe it's a myth like many other myths concerning the lost tribes. The legend of the lost tribes is a great story that fascinate many people. However, it's not change the fact that there are no evidence which indicate the story is true. I guess it is more of a wishful thinking by people who want to believe.
Hee-hee-hee.
That's an insurance agent's job: Convince you he is right! And that's why you didn't purchase an insurance product.
The real lost tribe of Iceland consists of those compelled in the late 19th century by the spectre of possible starvation to immigrate to Minnesota, North Dakota, and the Canadian Plains. I’m told, because I can’t read Icelandic, this picture I took .. http://jimrosssf.smugmug.com/gallery/734753_t5S87#32312281_Bn6zB .. along the harbor in Reykjavik, not far from the Solfarid, is of a monument to those “Western Icelanders”. Their story is elegantly, touchingly told by Minnesota poet Bill Holm, himself a descendant of those immigrants, in “The Windows of Brimnes; An American In Iceland”, a collection of essays based on his ponderings from peering out the windows of a modest Summer home he purchased not many years ago in Hofsos on Skagafjodur. From Exodus on, the story of exile seems never to lose its power to stir our souls. If you’re in Iceland and up toward Skagafjodur during the Summer, and especially if you’re a writer/artist/musician of any sort, stop by and chat with Mr. Holm. From his essays, I gather he enjoys having visitors.
P-l-e-a-s-e! Anyone can get on Google Earth and see the truth.
If you look from space at the land mass we now call “Iceland”, it is clearly visible how it resembles a huge Jewish star popularly called the Star of David. Sure, the 6 points are somewhat crumbled due to erosion, glacial drift, and damaging jokes about the little country. But if you squint your eyes just right and dim the computer monitors brightness just a little, it is easy and plain as day to see the miracle shape of the isle. Or course, it goes without saying that anti-Semitics will never “see” this.
Personally, I believe that Iceland, which in Norse mythology means “New, and a Little Bigger, BUT Colder, with lots o’ fish, yet will do for now, substitute for our homeland of Israel,” is indeed worthy of annexation by the present state of Israel as Israel Far North. If that is an issue politically, perhaps Israel South & Israel North will solve the matter.
Very possibly, each and every Icelander has in his or her blood the DNA of the tribe of Issachar. Why them? Their emblem or tribe logo which was on each and every battle shield was that of the a snowball! Pure coincidence? I doubt not.
What about the Tribe of Benjamin and the Wolf ? :)
Actually , mate , there is a peculiar aboriginal tribe that doesn't look like the locals here , and their lingo is close to an Aramaic/Hebrew mishmash . The Israelis might not want to admit that these beautiful brown people are a tribe and only a few members claim such things , but it is odd to say the least
The wolf of Benjamin. It is the tribe of Herulfar, Heruli or even rollo. Icelanders are Herulfar who flet from Norway to Iceland. This does not make us Jewish btw.
Jewdom is a religion. Not a bloodline(even though some want it to be like that).
That salesman should never had told you that story.
Delete your post and never think about this again.
Please dont connect Iceland with jews in any way
This is the result of best specialists.
This is in connection to the wisdom from the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Iceland light to the nations : Adam Rutherford 1937
Israel-Brittain same author
Sigfus Elíasson: Rödd Meistarans (voice of the maser etc)
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