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In the Jewish tradition, a Levite ( "Attached", Standard Hebrew , Tiberian Hebrew ) is a member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi. The Levites were the only one of the Israelite tribes who received cities but no tribal land when Joshua led the Israelites into the land of Canaan. The Tribe of Levi served particular religious duties for the Israelites. In return, the landed tribes were expected to give tithe to the Levites.
The tribe is named after Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (also called Israel). Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari ().
Kohath's son Amram was the father of Miriam, Aaron and Moses. The descendants of Aaron: the Kohanim ("Priests"), had the special role as priests in the Tabernacle in the wilderness and also in the Temple in Jerusalem. The remaining Levites (Levi'yim in Hebrew), divided into three groups (the descendents of Gershon, or Gershonites, the descendants of Kohath, or Kohathites, and the descendants of Merari, or Merarites) each filled different roles in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple services.
Levites' principle roles in the Temple included singing Psalms during Temple services, performing construction and maintenance for the Temple, serving as guards, and performing other services. Levites also served as teachers and judges, maintaining cities of refuge in Biblical times. The Book of Ezra reports that the Levites were responsible for the construction of the Second Temple and also translated and explained the Torah when it was publicly read.
Levites and priests may have been responsible for stamping the LMLK seals on Judean storage jars during the reign of Hezekiah (ca. 700 BCE). The associated personal seals on the same jars may have represented various courses of Levites overseeing the proper production of 10 percent for tithing in the same manner that modern rabbis (mashgihim) approve kosher wine (Grena, 2004, pp. 75-6).
Today, Levites in Orthodox Judaism continue to have additional rights and obligations compared to lay people, although these responsibilities have diminished with the destruction of the Temple. For instance, Kohanim are eligible to be called to the Torah first, followed by the Levites. Levites also provide assistance to the Kohanim, particularly washing their hands, before the Kohanim recite the Priestly Blessing. They also do not participate in the Pidyon Haben (redemption of the firstborn) ceremony, because they are traditionally pledged to Divine service. Conservative Judaism recognizes Levites as having special status, but not all Conservative congregations call Kohanim and Levites to the first and second reading of the Torah, and many no longer perform rituals such as the Priestly Blessing and Pidyon Haben in which kohanim and Levites have a special role. Reconstructionist and Reform Judaism have generally abolished all Biblical caste distinctions.
Orthodox Judaism believes in the eventual rebuilding of a Temple in Jerusalem and a resumption of the Levitical role. Some Orthodox Jews have founded schools to train priests and Levites in their respective roles. Conservative Judaism believes in a restoration of the Temple as a house of worship and in some special role for Levites, although not the ancient sacrificial cult as previously practiced. Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism does not believe in a future Temple at all, or in a form of worship in which role is determined by caste.
Some Levites have adopted a related last name to signify their status. Because of diverse geographical locations, the names have several variations:
- Levi, Lévy - Hebrew for "Levite", common among Levites of North African and Middle Eastern origin
- Levin - a Russian variation, also common in Scandinavia
- Levine - a Russian variation, usually pronounced \le-°vēn\ (rhymes vaguely with "ravine"). In some cases, the pronunciation is Americanized as \lə-°vīn\ (rhymes with "divine").
- Levinski, Lewinski and Levinsky - Polish variations
- Lewin, Levinthal and Loewy - German variations
- Leevi - a Finnish variation
Having a last name of Levi or a related term does not necessarily mean a person is a Levite, and many Levites do not have such last names. Levitical status is passed down in families from parent to child, as part of a family's genealogical tradition. In traditional Judaism, tribal status is determined by patrilineal descent, so a child whose biological father is a Levite is a Levite (even in cases of adoption or artificial insemination). Because Jewish status is traditionally determined by matrilineal descent, conferring levitical status on children requires both biological parents to be Jews and the biological father to be a Levite.
Currently the only branches of Judaism which regard Jewish status as being conferrable by both parents have also abolished tribal statuses and distinctions, due to a view in both cases that egalitarian principles override halakha (traditional Jewish law). Accordingly, there is currenlty no branch of Judaism that regards levitical status as conferrable by matrilinial descent. It is either conferable patrilinially, in the traditional manner, or it does not exist and is not conferred at all.
References
- Zarlengo, Michael. Tabernacle Gifts. Dallas, Texas: Michael Zarlengo Publishing, 2005.
"Levite"