a nation in flux #1

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם בִּינוּ שְׁנוֹת דּוֹר וָדוֹר שְׁאַל אָבִיךָ וְיַגֵּדְךָ זְקֵנֶיךָ וְיֹאמְרוּ לָךְ

HEROD

• Began his rule in 37BCE - the second son of Antipater the Idumaean.
• Died in 4 BCE
• Infamously cruel - Executed the Members of the Sanhedrin, save for Bava ben Buta.
• Died in 4 BCE
• Ally of Rome, and very prosperous
• Died in 4 BCE

Herod's consequences

• Drove the Sanhedrin Underground
• Separated Religion and Politics
• Ruled with fear
• Stabalized Judea

מי שלא ראה בנין הורדוס לא ראה בנין נאה מימיו
One who has not seen the Building of Herod has not seen a beautiful building.
(Talmud B.B. 4b)

The 1st century

Herod Archelaus

• Succeeded Herod
• Cruel and tyranical
• Ruled from 4BCE to 6CE
• Deposed by Rome

TORAH LEADERSHIP

• Romans record over 8 million Jews, 2.5 million living in Israel.
• Babylonia is the center for Torah study - Highlighted by the rise of Hillel HaZaken, returning at age 80 to Israel.
• Hillel and Shamai had separate schools.
• Questions that were previously resolved were now contentious.

HILLEL & The House of the Nasi

• The Sanhedrin elected the Nasi to counter the corruption of the Priesthood and Rome (Zugot System)
• After Sanhedrin , the seat of the Nasi became hereditary.
• Hillel served 40 years until 10CE.
• Practically, the period of Tanaim begins with Hillel and Shamai.
• Many debates with Sadducees.

POST HEROD

• Yehuda of Gamla revolted against the Roman Empire.
• Jews rebelled since they looked down on Greek and Roman culture. Judaism began as a counter to paganism.
• By 30 CE Judea was tumultuous, the Sanhedrin resigned from capital cases.
• This environment led to Christianity.

events the lead to the churban

• Judea was divided into different political groups.
• Roman rule persisted to aggravate Jewish leadership.
• Zealots wanted war, Friends of Rome wanted accommodations.
• 66CE Zealots revolted. Vespation brought 4 legions

Timeline of the Destruction

• 66CE Zealots revolted. Vespatian brought 4 legions.
• 67CE Gamla Fell
• 68CE Jerusalem is surrounded
• In fighting ensued - store houses were burned.
• 69CE Jerusalem is besieged
• 70CE The Temple is Destroyed. 1 Million Jews are killed.

RABBan YOCHANAN BEN ZAKAI

• 69CE Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai is smuggled out of Jerusalem.
• Meets Vespasian, and greets him as Ceasar.
• Asks for: Yavneh, the Nasi, Doctors for Rabbi Tarfon.

AFTERMATH of the CHURBAN

• Calm returned to Judea.
• Thousands of Jewish prisoners were freed from Rome.
• Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Yehoshua vied for leadership, and the Nasi was overthrown (then reinstated)
• 86CE Domitian ordered the Sanhedrin to be disbanded.
• 96CE Nerva restores liberties.