The Tribal Affiliation of Foremost Sages and Rabbis and what we can learn from them
There are 12 Tribes of Israel according to the Bible. In practice however the number is 13 since Ephraim and Manasseh (sons of Joseph) are Tribes in their own right and Levi is also counted.
We also have sub-groups such as the Sons of Moses in levi, and the Rechabites descendants of Jethro.
The Ten Tribes separated from the Kingdom of Judah.
Judah was comprised at first of the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Later they were joined by most of Levi, and then by minority representatives of all the other Tribes. We therefore find among the Jews members of all the Tribes though Judah, Benjamin, and Levi are predominant.
Even though Levi was a small Tribe most of the Sages who gave Judaism its present form came from Levi.
The Sages themselves said that all Lawgivers came from Judah, Levi, or Issachar. Nevertheless we still find some important Lawgivers from some of the other Tribes.
Some of the Sages and Rabbis after them had traditions regarding what Tribes they came from. Here are a few such indications we have come across. God willing, we will add to these as time goes by and may be discern Tribal Traits among them.
Benjamin
Hilell the Elder.
Hillell c. 110 BCE, - c. 10 CE[
Born in Babylon, died in Jerusalem. Founder of the House of Hillel.
Hilell on his father's side was descended from Benjamin and on the side of his mother from the House of David, of Judah.
Hilel was a "Love your neighbor as yourself" type of person.
(1) "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And being for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?"
His "Golden Rule": "That which is hateful to you, do not do unto your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary; now go and learn."
[Incidentally King Alfred in England lived a few hundred years later and he too is credited with a similar saying].
Maxims:
Don't trust yourself until the day you die."
"Do not judge your fellow until you are in his place."
"Whosoever destroys one soul, it is as though he had destroyed the entire world. And whosoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved the entire world."
"Where there are no men, strive to be a man!"
"My humiliation is my exaltation; my exaltation is my humiliation."
Joseph
Rabbi Yochanan
Also known as Johanan bar Nappaha (i.e. Rabbi Yochanan the Smith), ca. 180-279 CE.
He believed himself to be descended from Joseph and therefore not vulnerable to the Evil Eye (Talmud, Berachot 20a). His opinion is quoted thousands of times across the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmuds.
The Talmud exists in two versions, the Babylonian Talmud, and the Talmud Yerushami (Jerusalem Talmud).
The compilation of the Jerusalem Talmud is generally ascribed to Rabbi Yochanan.
He was democratic.
Previously the learning of Torah in depth had been restricted to those who were of proven intellectual and behavioral merit. Rabbi Yochananon opened it up to everyone and greatly increased the number familiar with it. Rabbi Yechonan was considered extremely handsome. He was also exceptionally strong and also fat.
Rabbi Yochanan used to learn with Resh Lakish who was his brother-in-law and a reformed bandit.
Rabbi Yochanan and Resh Lakish were always arguing as to what the Law was. Rabbi Yechonan was right more often than not but sometimes he was not. Rech Lakish was a foremost authority in his own right.
Between the two of them they clarified what the Law was.
When Resh Lakish died Rabbi Yechonan could not find an intellectual replacement for him. Consequently Rabbi Yochanan went mad and died.
Issachar
"Bnei Yissachar." Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Shapiro of Dinov (1783-1841) is known after a book he wrote, "Bnei Yissachar" i.e. "Sons of issachar." He beleived himself descended from Issachar. He has many descendants among the Rabbis of Brooklyn, USA. His most famous work, "Bnei Yissachar," deals with the months of the Year according to the Hebrew Calendar and the Festivals. He emphasize the uniqueness of time. Every day has a speciality of its own. This applies especially to the Holy Days.
What can we learn concerning the Individual Tribes from the above?
For the moment, not very much.
As more examples become available however we might find common denominators to help us along.