Reviews for The Flourishing of Jewish Sects in the Maccabean Era: An Interpretation

The average rating for The Flourishing of Jewish Sects in the Maccabean Era: An Interpretation based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2010-11-21 00:00:00 Graeme A. Wright This is an interesting read and an excellent reference for anyone interested in the formative period of Rabbinic Judaism and of Christianity, and in the origins of synagogues and churches. The early practice of "home churches," or village-centered mini-congregations is traced. These small grassroots congregations were replaced with building-centered communities as local governments were weakened by imperial taxation around the third century. (p. 1-2, 115) The Pharisees are seen as distinct from the local synagogues, though they had a social esteem and teaching authority. (p.61-62, 99) This teaching authority was claimed by them as heirs of "the seat of Moses," a particularly JUDICIAL function. (p. 63, 93-96) With these highlights, perhaps you will be interested in getting "the rest of the story" from the nine scholarly reports in this book!

Review # 2 was written on 2016-01-24 00:00:00 David Ash Upon encountering this passage from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's 1993 speech I was quite nearly moved to tears: "We are destined to live together, on the same soil in the same land. We, the soldiers who have returned from battle stained with blood, we who have seen our relatives and friends killed before our eyes, we who have attended their funerals and cannot look into the eyes of parents and orphans, we who have come from a land where parents bury their children, we who have fought against you, the Palestinians - we say to you today in a loud and clear voice: Enough of blood and tears. Enough. We harbour no hatred towards you. We have no desire for revenge. We, like you, are people who want to build a home, plant a tree, love, live side by side with you - in dignity, in empathy, a human beings, as free men. We are today giving peace a chance and saying to you: Enough. Let's pray that a day will come when we all will say: Farewell to arms." This is a brilliant survey of Israeli history. I thoroughly enjoy reading it.