Archaeological evidence, historical documents and famous works of art combine to paint a picture of the continuity of celebration of Jewish holidays and festivals from ancient times until contemporary Judaism. Throughout the long history of the Jewish people, through trials and tribulations, in Israel and in exile, wherever Jews have lived, they have celebrated their […]
The story of Purim is told in the biblical Book of Esther and is celebrated today much in the way that the book delineates. But what happened between now and then? Although not commonly known, there is textual, archaeological and artistic evidence of the celebration of Purim from ancient times until today. A document found in the […]
Excerpted from Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism- a Parallel History of their Origins and Early Development. Ed. Hershal Shanks. Washington D.C.- Biblical Archaeology Society, 1993. The Diaspora Revolts Under Trajan, a series of major revolts did in fact erupt, primarily affecting the Jews of the Diaspora. (74) In 115 C.E., Jews in Egypt and Cyrene (on […]
Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism- a Parallel History of their Origins and Early Development. Ed. Hershal Shanks. Washington D.C.- Biblical Archaeology Society, 1993. The Organization of the Mishnah The Mishnah is a large work, some 800 to 1,000 pages in English translation. ( It consists of laws, debates on legal questions and brief narratives on legal […]
A mask of the Sassanian king Shapur II ruled 241-272 CE, known in rabbinic sources as “Shapur Malka.”
Later traditions recognized the importance of Rabbi Judah ben Bathyra I’s teachings in Babylonia as can be seen from his presence in this list with the great figures of tannaitic tradition and their centers of learning. “Righteousness, righteousness, pursue!” (Deut. 16:20) Go after the sages to the academy, after Rabbi Eliezer to Lud, after Rabbi […]
Already in the tannaitic period, Rabbinic sages were to be found in Babylonia. Most prominent among them was Rabbi Judah ben Bathyra I (mid-first century C.E.) settled in Nisibis before the destruction of the Temple. Rabbi Yose said, “Once I visited Nisibis, (128) and I saw an old man there, and I said to him, […]
King Shaµpuµr receives tribute from the Roman emperors Valerian (253–260), who bows before him, and Philip the Arab (244–249), who stands in the background, offering his arms to the mounted king. Shaµpuµr, who called himself “King of Kings of Iran and Non-Iran,” ruled over the Persian Sassanian empire from 241–272. The rapid spread of Manichaeism […]