“Were you told where to find the Sambatyon River in your dream, Uncle Baruch?”

"We must travel to the Sambatyon River and recruit the aid of our long-lost brethren.”

Reb Baruch’s words hung in the air as total silence filled the room.

Rav Meir stared at Reb Baruch with an intense gaze. “You were told this explicitly?”

“Yes. I was told that only among the righteous Jews who live secluded behind the Sambatyon River can a tzaddik be found who is powerful enough to destroy the sorcerer.”

Yitzchak piped up suddenly from the corner of the room.

“What is the Sambatyon River? Who lives beyond it?”

Rav Meir nodded to Reb Baruch.

“Tell him.”

So Reb Baruch did.

*******************

“During the reign of Shlomo Hamelech, Hashem sent a Navi, Achiya Hashiloni, to inform Shlomo that because of his aveiros, Hashem was going to take the kingdom away from him. In the zechus of Dovid Hamelech, Shlomo’s father, Hashem only took away the kingdom during the reign of Shlomo’s son.

“After Shlomo was niftar, his son, Rechavam, was crowned king in the city of Shechem. At the coronation, Rechavam informed the people that even though they had been weighed down with many heavy taxes during Shlomo’s rule, he would be even harsher than his father!

“The Jews were fed up and decided to start their own kingdom in the north of Eretz Yisrael, establishing Yeravam ben Nevat as their new king. The only shevatim that stayed with Rechavam were Yehuda and Binyomin. Thus, the Jews were split into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom and the kingdom of Yehuda.”

Yitzchak’s eyes were wide with fascination. “Was Yeravam a good king?”

“No, he was not. Since Yerushalayim and the Beis Hamikdash were in the territory of Rechavam, he was afraid that if the Jews under his rule traveled to the Beis Hamikdash to bring korbanos, they would have a change of heart and decide to join ranks with Rechavam. He knew this might lead to his own assassination, so he decided to do whatever he could to prevent it.

“He put idols at the two opposite sides of his kingdom and told the Jews to worship them instead of traveling to Yerushalayim. He also added soldiers blocking the road to Yerushalayim, preventing the Jews from going to the Beis Hamikdash.”

Tears welled up in Yitzchak’s eyes. “What happened to the Jews living under this rasha?”

Reb Baruch sighed. “They fell very, very low… They reached their worst period under the reign of the 13th king of the Northern Kingdom, Yeravam ben Yoash. During this time, Yerovam II led many successful military attempts, which led to a lot of wealth and comfort for the Jews in the Northern Kingdom.”

Yitzchak thought for a moment and then said, “Did the Jews behave even worse because of all the material comforts?”

“Very good, Yitzchak. Yes, that is what happened. The Jews became extremely corrupted, and they worshiped the idols Yeravam I had built years before to stop Jews from going to the Beis Hamikdash.

“Hashem sent the Navi Amos to warn the Jews that they would be exiled from Eretz Yisrael if they did not do teshuvah, but they did not listen to him.

“Later, the Assyrian kingdom invaded Eretz Yisrael, and this led to the exiling of the ten shevatim living in the Northern Kingdom.”

Yitzchak shook his head sadly. “So… they are all lost forever?”

Rav Meir raised his hand. “It’s not so simple, my child. One must carefully learn the Gemara that deals with that question.”

“And where were they exiled to?”

“Chazal mention different locations where they were sent, including possibly Africa, Iran, and other places.”

“Other places including the land across Sambatyon River?”

“Yes. There is a Gemara and midrash that say some of the shevatim were exiled beyond the Sambatyon River. Reb Baruch, tell Yitzchak the nature of this incredible river.”

“The Sambatyon River is said to flow fiercely six days a week, spitting up large rocks, making passage across it impossible. Only on Shabbos does the river calm down, but one may not travel across a river on Shabbos. The Roman governor Tinneius Rufus once asked Rabbi Akiva to prove that his calculation of which day is Shabbos is correct. Rabbi Akiva responded that the Sambatyon River proves it quite clearly because on Shabbos it rests.”

Yitzchak leapt up in excitement and grabbed his uncle’s hand.

“Were you told where to find the Sambatyon River in your dream, Uncle Baruch?”

“Yes.”

“So you will go there and bring back a tzaddik to kill the sorcerer?”

Reb Baruch looked up at Rav Meir, who nodded.

“What is our next step, Rav Meir?”

“Pack your belongings, Reb Baruch, and summon Reb Yosef to join us. Our journey begins immediately.”

(Excerpted from Mishpacha Jr., Issue 782)