The Move to Yavneh

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Questions and Answers

Who were the zealots and what was their stance towards Roman rule?

The zealots were an extreme group of Jews who refused to accept Roman rule and wanted all-out war.

What was Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai's plan to ensure the survival of Torah study after Jerusalem's destruction?

Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai foresaw the need to transplant the centre of Torah scholarship to another location, and he opposed the zealots and came up with a plan to escape Jerusalem to meet with a Roman commander.

How did Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai manage to escape Jerusalem to meet with the Roman commander?

Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai's students smuggled him out of the city in a coffin, managing to sneak past the zealots and have a meeting with the Roman commander, Vespasian.

What actions did the zealots take to force their fellow Jews to fight and oppose Roman rule?

The zealots set fire to the city's food stores, imposed a siege on Jerusalem, and did not let their fellow Jews in or out in order to force them to fight and oppose Roman rule. Signup and view all the answers

What did Vespasian tell Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai when they first met?

Vespasian told Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai that he was now liable for the death penalty since he was not the Emperor. Signup and view all the answers

What happened at the moment a messenger from Rome arrived to tell Vespasian?

The messenger arrived to tell Vespasian that the Emperor Nero had died and Vespasian was now the Emperor. Signup and view all the answers

How did Vespasian react to Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai and what did he offer him?

Vespasian admired Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai and offered him three requests. Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the requests Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai made to Vespasian?

The victory of Rome would be cancelled out because the family of Rabban Gamliel would live and provide spiritual leadership for the Jewish people. Signup and view all the answers

What principle did Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai rely on by keeping Rabbi Tzadok alive?

He relied on the principle that one righteous person can influence and protect an entire generation. Signup and view all the answers

What did Vespasian allow regarding the Sanhedrin?

Vespasian allowed the Sanhedrin to re-form as an academy in Yavneh. Signup and view all the answers

What did Vespasian think he was giving Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai when granting his requests?

Vespasian thought he was giving Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai nothing, but in reality, he was giving him everything. Signup and view all the answers

Despite the destruction of their country and Beit Hamikdash, what was intact for the Jewish people?

Despite the destruction, the Jewish people emerged with their religious leadership and religious frameworks intact. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Roman Conquest of Judea

The Roman Empire controlled Judea (Israel) and attacked the north, advancing towards Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, Jewish groups were arguing amongst themselves, each with a different viewpoint on how to respond to the Roman threat.

The Zealots

The Zealots were a group of extreme Jews who refused to accept Roman rule and wanted all-out war.
They were unhappy with the Sages' proposal to send a peace delegation to the Romans.
To force fellow Jews to fight, the Zealots set fire to Jerusalem's food stores, condemning the population to starvation.
They also imposed a siege on Jerusalem, not letting fellow Jews in or out.

Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai

Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai was the greatest Jewish sage of the time.
He foresaw Jerusalem's doom and understood the need to transplant the centre of Torah scholarship to another location.
He opposed the Zealots and came up with a plan to escape Jerusalem to meet with a Roman commander.

Escape from Jerusalem

Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai's students smuggled him out of the city in a coffin, past the Zealots.
He met with the Roman commander, Vespasian, and greeted him as if he was the Emperor.

Meeting with Vespasian

Vespasian told Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai that he was liable for the death penalty since he wasn't the Emperor.
A messenger arrived, announcing the death of Emperor Nero and Vespasian's ascension to the throne.
Vespasian admired Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai's spirituality and granted him three requests.

Three Requests

Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai requested the safety of the family of Rabban Gamliel, ensuring spiritual leadership for the Jewish people.
He requested the life of Rabbi Tzadok, relying on the principle that one righteous person can influence and protect an entire generation.
He requested permission for the Sanhedrin to re-form as an academy in Yavneh, allowing the Jewish people to survive throughout the ages.

Legacy of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai

Despite the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai ensured the Torah would continue and stay with the Jewish people even in exile.
The Jewish people emerged from the conflict with their religious leadership and religious frameworks intact, allowing them to outlast the Romans.

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Description

Jewish Revolt in Roman Judea: Test your knowledge of the internal conflicts and Roman conquest of ancient Israel. Explore the factions and events that led to a violent power struggle in Jerusalem during the Roman Empire's expansion.