Under the Byzantine Christians, the Jews were organized around two primary institutions, the house of the patriarch and the academy of the sages. That tensions arose between these two elites is clear from this passage in the Jerusalem Talmud.

Resh Laqish said: “A nasi (patriarch) who has sinned is to be flogged in a court of three (Judges)” . . . Rabbi Judah Nesiaḥ²⁸ learned of this and became angry. He sent his servants to apprehend Resh Laqish who was troubled and fled to Migdal (just north of Tiberias); some say to Kefar Ḥittim (east of Tiberias). The next day, Rabbi Yoḥanan came to the academy and Rabbi Judah Nesiaḥ also came to the academy. He (Rabbi Judah) asked: “Why does our master not teach us Torah?” He (Rabbi Yoḥanan) began clapping with one hand. He asked him: “Does one clap with one hand?” He (Rabbi Yoḥanan) replied: “No, but without Resh Laqish, I do not (i.e. I cannot clap with two, he is like my second hand). He (Rabbi Judah) said: “Tomorrow you and I will go meet him.” (In the meantime) Rabbi Yoḥanan sent to Resh Laqish: “Prepare a word of Torah for the nasi is coming out to meet you.” (Resh Laqish) came out to greet them and said: “The example you set is comparable to that of your Creator. When God wished to save Israel he sent neither a messenger nor an angel, but He Himself (went), as it is written: ‘And I will pass through all the land of Egypt’ (Ex. 12:12)—He and all His entourage.” He (either Rabbi Yoḥanan or Rabbi Judah) said: “And why did you see it fitting to say this?” He replied to them: “What do you think? Would I desist from teaching the word of God because I am afraid of you?”

27. Trans. L. I. Levine in The Rabbinic Class of Roman Palestine in Late Antiquity (Jerusalem: Yad Izhak ben-Zvi; New York: Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 1989), pp. 187–8.

28. Grandson of Rabbi Judah the Prince, 230–270 C.E.