by hadassah | Nov 18, 2015 | Greco-Roman Period, Pharisees and Sadducees
Ossuary, Jerusalem region, first century. Inscription: “Yehosef bar Eglon. Since the nineteenth century, scholars of ancient Judaism have interpreted Jewish ossuaries in terms of the resurrection/redemption trope. Most prominently, they have associated ossuary...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | Pharisees and Sadducees
The Mishnah asserts that the Pharisees were able to compel the Sadducees to follow their rulings, even in the Temple, a matter of controversy among modern scholars. In this case, they insisted that the preparation of the ashes of the red heifer (Num. 19) be done by...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | Pharisees and Sadducees
This Mishnaic passage records a debate between the Sadducees and Pharisees on the treatment of men who gave false testimony in a capital case. Different interpretations of the biblical law resulted in different judicial rulings. Scheming witnesses 98 are not executed...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | Pharisees and Sadducees
This passage indicates that although the Sadducees strictly observed the prohibition of carrying from domain to domain on the Sabbath, they did not accept the Pharisaic device of Eruv designed to make possible the joining of domains and thus permit carrying in a...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | Pharisees and Sadducees
The following passage shows that for some, Pharisaic extremism, or perhaps even hypocrisy, would be an object of ridicule. [Rabbi Joshua] used to say- A foolish pietist, a cunning wicked person, an ascetic woman,94 and the plagues of the Pharisees, these destroy the...
by hadassah | Apr 8, 2008 | Pharisees and Sadducees
This Mishnaic passage indicates that the Pharisees observed purity laws at a level which placed them between the common people and the priestly families who ate of the terumah offerings. The clothing of an ‘am ha-’arez 91 is the source of the highest level of...
