Final answer:
The “ten lost tribes” refer to the Israelite tribes of the ancient Kingdom of Israel that were dispersed by the Assyrian conquest in 722 BCE and lost their distinct cultural identity. Ethiopian Jews have been recognized by some as possible descendants of these tribes, particularly after their immigration to Israel. The fate of these tribes remains a subject of historical and cultural significance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term “ten lost tribes” refers to the ancient Israelite tribes that were part of the Kingdom of Israel after it split from the Kingdom of Judah following the death of King Solomon. These tribes were conquered and dispersed by the Assyrian Empire in 722 BCE. Due to being absorbed into the empire and experiencing loss of their cultural identity, these tribes became known as “lost” because their lineage and whereabouts became uncertain over time. Throughout history and into the modern era, various groups, including the Ethiopian Jews, have been posited to be descendants of these tribes, though this is subject to debate.
After the establishment of the modern State of Israel, Jewish people from around the world, including Ethiopian Jews, have been given the right to immigrate to Israel. Some of these migrations were facilitated by operations such as “Operation Moses” and “Operation Solomon” in the 1980s. Despite the challenges they faced, such as questions of identity and integration into Israeli society, many Ethiopian Jews have made Israel their home. The enduring interest in the identity and fate of the ten lost tribes continues in religious, historical, and cultural discourse.