Expert: Gaddy Yaari - 4/20/2009

Question
Hello:  My name is Alan James Slaten.  When my grandparents came to America there name was Slutzky and changed it.  I was told years ago I was a Kohen.  I am trying to find my hebrew name and what tribe I am from...

Sincerely

Answer
Alan,

The Jewish tradition holds that 10 of the 12 tribes disappeared in 722 BCE, following the defeat of Israel by Assyria. Today's Jews trace themselves to the two remaining tribes, Judah and Levy.

Another tradition is that all members of the tribe of Levy have either the last names of Levy or Cohen, or else they are intertwined into similar names. You'll find traces of "Levy" in Levin, Levine, Levinsky, Lev and Levitan. Traces of "Cohen" are found in Kohn, Kuhn, Kagan, Kogan, Kohane and Kahana, as well as Katz.

Now, the priestly function passes in a patrilineal descent. My mother came from a priestly family ("Kohane") but I'm not one. Jewish Cohens have tried through the ages to maintain their identity through the family name, and my suspicion is that yours is not one.

All the best,


Gaddy