Levite
Jewish male descended patrilineally from the Hebrew tribe of Levi From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Levite or Levi[2] (Hebrew language: לֵוִי) is a Jewish male descended from the Tribe of Levi on the father's side.[3]
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| ~500,000–600,000 worldwide[a] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Israel | 240,000 |
 United States | 200,000 |
 France | 16,000 |
 Canada | 12,000 |
| Languages | |
| Vernacular: Hebrew, English Historical: Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic | |
| Religion | |
| Judaism, Samaritanism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Jews, Samaritans | |
Levites are the descendants of the Tribe of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Levites are integrated in Jewish and Samaritan communities, but keep a distinct status. There are estimated 300,000 Levites among Ashkenazi Jewish communities.[1] Total percentage of Levites among Jews is about 4%. | |
The Levites of the Book of Leviticus were priests. In that book and the Book of Numbers they help Moses make prayers to God in the tabernacle (a holy tent).
