Rabbis are in no way, shape or form comparable to Cohanim (or “priests,” as the author refers to them). The latter are hereditary ministrators in Solomon’s Temple, as are the Leviim. They still perform some ritual functions even now, although with the Temple in ruins and under occupation, they can’t perform their main functions. Rabbis are merely teachers, and do not offer animal sacrifices or accept first fruits and such, which can only be done when the Temple is rebuilt.
But the Tribe of Dan is a lost tribe. Another such tribe is the Benei Menashe, who also used to make sacrifices on Passover on Bamot when they lived in rural India. Members of both tribes are my neighbors and friends in Kiryat Arba. They were exiled during the period of the First Temple, when making animal and other sacrifices on small, makeshift altars called Bamot was still commonplace. It would not surprise me if these Kesachs are really hereditary Cohanim, continuing the practices of the First Temple era, despite the changes in Jewish law from which they’ve been isolated for too long. But I’d have to learn more about them. This is the first I’ve ever heard of them.
” It would not surprise me if these Kesachs are really hereditary Cohanim, continuing the practices of the First Temple era, despite the changes in Jewish law from which they’ve been isolated for too long. “
But - if the Cohanim exist, rabbinic authority is chalanged ...
EG, one would assume, according to the Cohanim, there were no changes is Jewish law since the first temple.
Lost no more; due to the fine detective work of our highly educated MORMON scholars!
--MormonDude(Where do you think the MAYANs came from???)