The book of Jubilees belongs to a category of literature that contemporary scholars designate by the pleasantly vague tag “the Rewritten Bible.” The author of the book, like a number of other ancient Jewish writers, found it convenient to convey his message through an annotated presentation of the older text. In this way he could show […]
True or not, Anita Hill told the story of her alleged sexual harassment by the now-Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to a nationwide television audience of millions, fascinated by the drama of sex and power. But Susanna was never given the opportunity to tell how she had been sexually harassed by two scurrilous old men. […]
A mix of folktale and prayer, biblical themes and classical motifs, Tobit depicts a fantastic tale of Diaspora life. Containing an angel in disguise, a murderous demon, a magical fish and a young man on a journey to maturity, the Book of Tobit is not told simply to entertain. Rather, it provides carefully crafted instructions […]
“Hannukah”—the celebration of the (re-)dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem—goes back to the very first dedication—that of Solomon in the 10th century BCE. But the holiday Jews have long called Hannukah commemorates just one of the Temple’s re-dedications—that at the hand of the Maccabees in 164 BCE. This holiday has sometimes been called a “minor” […]
Shaye J.D. Cohen. “Judaism to the Mishnah: 135-220 C.E.” Part II Greco-Roman Period 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. 68 […]
Being a Diaspora people, Jews create art using the same material culture of their surroundings. Prof. Steven Fine, Yeshiva University, Produced by Down Low Pictures for COJS
As Rome conquered Judea, the laissez-faire attitude toward art which depicted idolatry began to disappear. Prof. Steven Fine, Yeshiva University, Produced by Down Low Pictures for COJS
For Zionism, archaeology became a connection to the Land of Israel and proof of the existence of Jewish life in the area in ancient times. Prof. Steven Fine, Yeshiva University, Produced by Down Low Pictures for COJS
Every once in a while, you can find one artifact which summarizes a whole lot of information and gives you a new or better vision of what existed before. Prof. Steven Fine, Yeshiva University, Produced by Down Low Pictures for COJS
Jewish archaeology is a way of studying the Jewish past through objects that were found in the ground and can be read within the context of Jewish history, literature and art. Prof. Steven Fine, Yeshiva University, Produced by Down Low Pictures for COJS