Eldad ha-Dani

Eldad ha - Dani, dt Eldad the Danite, (late 9th century ) was a Jewish world traveler and trader, who appeared in 880 in North Africa and Spain.

Origin and life of Eldat lies largely in the dark. As its name suggests, he belonged to the tribe of Danaiten which had formed according to his information along with the nomadic tribes of Naphtali, Gad and Asher Africa in their own kingdom. Starting from this kingdom undertook Eldat several trips in North Africa. He described the various settlements of the ten lost tribes of Israel, and reported on their traditions. From his tribe he claimed to live " where the gold is ."

The issue of scientific reliability of his writings is controversial. His stories about the lost tribes, as well as the allegedly brought from his home dissimilar Schächtregeln aroused strong attention.

His book had great impact and was often (often in an edited and expanded form ) passed.

Literature (selection )

• Abraham Epstein, Eldad ha - Dani, Bratislava 1891
• Max Schlössinger: The Ritual of Eldad ha - Dani reconstructed and edited from manuscripts and a Genizah fragment: with notes, an introduction and an appendix on the Eldad legends, Leipzig 1908
• Wininger 1925 et seq Vol II, Article Eldad ben Mahli, the Danite
• Ismar Elbogen: Article Eldad Hadani, in: Jewish Encyclopedia, Berlin 1927, Volume II
• Azriel Shochat Eldad HA DANI. In: Encyclopaedia Judaica, 2nd edition, Volume 6, Detroit / New York, among others 2007, ISBN 978-0-02-865934-3, pp. 293-294 (English)