HIST 207 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Oral Torah, Epicureanism, Rabbinic Judaism
Document Summary
Rabbis tell the story of their own origins. Jochanon ben was placed in a coffin and made his way to the commander of the romans. Receives three wishes for his assistance to the roman emperor. Wants only to create a centre of learning in yavneh. Is the story is true it might be the beginning of the rabbinic movement, but small and in an obscure town. Did jochena betray the jews - the temple is about to be destroyed as people are fighting for their freedom. The text comes from long after 70 and reflects a later rabbinic self-impression. They were peaceful in the romans times and natural leaders. Jochena is soon replaced with the figure of hiller. Descendants become dynastic leaders and eventually recognized as the leaders in palestine. Receive the title of patriarch (nasi in hebrew) Cohen (prof argues that he writes better, though not necessarily the better argument)