a nation in flux #2

The 2nd century

Trajan

• Trajan succeeded Nerva in 98CE
• A coin issued by Nerva reads fisci Judaici calumnia sublata, "abolition of malicious prosecution in connection with the Jewish tax"
• Trajan wanted to conquer all the nations to the east (Parthians), including Babylon.
• Sanhedrin disbanded, and flees to Lod

Jewish Leadership

• Rabban Gamliel dies in around 105CE. Rabban Shimon, his son goes into hiding.
• Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya becomes the Nasi, flees to Tzipori
• Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Tarfon flee to Lod - to the attic of Nitza

The Attic in Lod

• Laws of Kiddush Hashem
• Study vs Action

Trajan's war

• Attacks the Parthians in 114CE - wins massive area
• Parthians use guerrilla warfare, together with Jewish soldiers, forcing Trajan's retreat in 116CE
• Trajan retaliates by massacring Jews in other places in the Empire
• Community of Alexandria is destroyed

Impacts in Israel

• Trajan appoints Lucius to oppress Jews in Israel
• 117CE Trajan dies and is succeeded by Hadrian
• Hadrian began as a friend of the Jews in Rome

Hadrian

• Ends the war and returns the troops
• 122CE grants permission to rebuild the Beit HaMikdash
• Hadrian revokes permission due to pressure
• Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya prevents a rebellion
• Sanhedrin reconvenes in Usha
• Torah thrives in the 120's

Takkanos Usha

• Child Support
• Laws of Charity
• Parenting Advice
• Spousal Support

Hadrian's about turn

• Bans Brit Milah, Talmud Torah, Shabbos, Mikvah etc...
• Hadrian wants to make Jerusalem a Roman city - Aelia Capitolina
• Shimon ben Kosiva rises as a Jewish general / leader - Named Bar Kochva

bar Kochva

• Rabbi Akiva sees his Messianic potential
• Bar Kochva recruits and trains an army
• Pushes Roman forces back to Cesearia
• 126CE~ Reconquers Jerusalem, expels Turnus Rufus
• Proclaims the Kingdom of Judea
• Might have brought sacrifices!

Bar Kochva's downfall

• Jerusalem, Hebron and most of Judea is under Jewish rule for 2.5 years
• Romans bring reinforcements, forcing Bar Kochva in Betar
• Three years later, Betar falls, Bar Kochva is killed along with 800000 Jews
• 9th of Av, 133CE

Aftermath of betar

• After the fall of Betar, Jews become passive.
• Hadrian renames Israel/Judea as Syria Palestina
• Last Jewish sovereignty in Israel until modern times
• Christianity splits with Judaism
• Full banning of mitzvot

The last years of hadrian

• The Talmud describes strange questions during this time
• Round Tefillin, Blowing Shofar in a pit
• This is the period of the 10 Martyrs (Though not all are killed in this period)
• Judaism is forced underground
• Hadrian dies in 139CE - Betar's victims are buried.

Famous figures

• Rabbi Akiva
• Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
• Elisha ben Abuya
• Rabbi Meir and Bruria

Stability

• Hadrian's decrees are annulled
• Marcus Aurelius succeeds Antoninus Pius
• Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi is appointed as Nasi after his father (Rabban Shimon) and befriends Marcus Aurelius
• The Mishna is compiled

the Mishna

• Complied by Rebbe
• 6 Orders, 60 Tractates
• The Oral Torah is written down - Halacha is universally accesable
• Completed in 188CE - 1500 years after Mount Sinai
• Rebbe dies ~200CE