Jeremy Rosen
Was Alexander Good for the Jews?
Summary
Jeremy Rosen discusses the perceptions of Alexander the Great by the Jewish community during his reign. He highlights how Alexander’s tolerance and respect for different cultures left a positive impression on the Jews, even though they maintained their own distinct identity and beliefs. Additionally, he explores the influence of Greek philosophy and thought on Jewish culture.
Jeremy Rosen
Manchester-born Jeremy Rosen was educated at Cambridge University England and Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He has practiced as an orthodox rabbi, as principal of Carmel College in the UK, and as professor at the Faculty for Comparative Religion in Antwerp, Belgium. He has written and lectured extensively in the UK and the US, where he now resides and was the rabbi of the Persian-Jewish community in Manhattan.
No specific customs because the Greek’s religion was a pagan religion. Greek practises and Jewish practises were very, very different.
Greece was absorbed into the Roman Empire. Christianity condemned Judaism at the Council of Nasia in 325. It took until 325 for Christianity to establish itself as one single discipline religion. And Constantine, the emperor, spent more time killing Christians who disagreed with his version of Christianity than anybody else. And in fact, Christians have killed far more Christians than they’ve killed Jews over the years.
Yes, I would, I wouldn’t have minded living under Alexander. I can’t think of any other dictator I would’ve liked to live under.