Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who were the zealots and what was their stance towards Roman rule?
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?
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?
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?
What actions did the zealots take to force their fellow Jews to fight and oppose Roman rule?
What did Vespasian tell Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai when they first met?
What did Vespasian tell Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai when they first met?
What happened at the moment a messenger from Rome arrived to tell Vespasian?
What happened at the moment a messenger from Rome arrived to tell Vespasian?
How did Vespasian react to Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai and what did he offer him?
How did Vespasian react to Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai and what did he offer him?
What was one of the requests Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai made to Vespasian?
What was one of the requests Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai made to Vespasian?
What principle did Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai rely on by keeping Rabbi Tzadok alive?
What principle did Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai rely on by keeping Rabbi Tzadok alive?
What did Vespasian allow regarding the Sanhedrin?
What did Vespasian allow regarding the Sanhedrin?
What did Vespasian think he was giving Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai when granting his requests?
What did Vespasian think he was giving Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai when granting his requests?
Despite the destruction of their country and Beit Hamikdash, what was intact for the Jewish people?
Despite the destruction of their country and Beit Hamikdash, what was intact for the Jewish people?
Flashcards
Roman Conquest of Judea
Roman Conquest of Judea
The Roman Empire's control and advance towards Jerusalem.
Zealots
Zealots
Extreme Jews opposing Roman rule, advocating for war.
Sages' peace proposal
Sages' peace proposal
Proposal to send a delegation to Romans for peace.
Zealots' actions
Zealots' actions
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Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai
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Torah Scholarship
Torah Scholarship
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Escape from Jerusalem
Escape from Jerusalem
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Vespasian
Vespasian
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Meeting with Vespasian
Meeting with Vespasian
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Nero's death
Nero's death
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Three requests
Three requests
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Rabban Gamliel's family
Rabban Gamliel's family
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Rabbi Tzadok
Rabbi Tzadok
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Sanhedrin's relocation
Sanhedrin's relocation
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Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple.
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple.
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Jewish Survival
Jewish Survival
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Jewish Leadership
Jewish Leadership
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Jewish Religious Frameworks
Jewish Religious Frameworks
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Outlasting the Romans
Outlasting the Romans
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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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