הַמַּסּוֹת֙ הַגְּדֹלֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָא֖וּ עֵינֶ֑יךָ הָאֹתֹ֧ת וְהַמֹּפְתִ֛ים הַגְּדֹלִ֖ים הָהֵֽם׃
ces grandes épreuves dont tes yeux furent témoins, ces signes et ces prodiges extraordinaires.
English Explanation of Mishnah Sanhedrin
The ten tribes will not return [to the Land of Israel], for it is said, “And He cast them into another land, as is this day” (Deuteronomy 29:2: just as the day goes and does not return, so they too went and will not return: according to the words of Rabbi Akiba. Rabbi Eliezer says: “‘As is this day’ just as the day darkens and then becomes light again, so the ten tribes even as it went dark for them, so will it in the future become light for them. According to Rabbi Akiva, once the ten northern tribes of Israel (see II Kings 17) were sent into exile they were never to return. Again, Rabbi Eliezer disagrees. Although the day turned metaphorically dark on these tribes, they retain the hope for a bright future. Just as the night eventually turns to light, so too will the ten tribes one day be returned to their land.