By Bentzion Goldman MASADA OR YAVNEH?. Overview Throughout this presentation I will be discussing a few topics: 1. The Background History of the Destruction

By Bentzion Goldman

MASADA OR YAVNEH?

Overview

Throughout this presentation I will be discussing a few topics:

1. The Background History of the Destruction of the Second Temple

2. The two approaches to the destruction

3. Which approach I think was more inspiring.

BACKGROUND HISTORYWhat Led Up to the Destruction

Background History

There were three main events which increasingly built up to the two responses of the destruction of the 2nd temple. Here’s an overview:

Background History

There were three main events which increasingly built up to the two responses of the destruction of the 2nd temple. Here’s an overview:

Background History-Roman Rule

At the start of the Roman Rule, the

ruling became increasingly harsh

on the Jews. They were treated

unfairly. Many sporadic revolts

broke out, eventually leading to

a full-scale revolt, called the

Great Revolt, in 66 CE.

Background History-The Great Revolt

The Great revolt broke out as a

result of the increasingly harsh

and unfair laws which were set

upon the Jews. The Romans and

Jews were in constant battle. At

the end, the Roman army, led by

Titus, succeeded in razing

Jerusalem to the ground, in 70

CE.

Background History-The Destruction

Ending The Great Revolt, The

Romans, led by Titus, conquered

Jerusalem and succeeded in

destroying the Temple.

Hundreds of Thousands of Jews

perished in the siege, or in other

places in Jerusalem, and many

thousands more were sold into

slavery.

Important Roman Characters

TitusTitus, Roman general who

eventually destroyed the Temple

VespasianVespasian, the Roman who became emporer and who gave R’ Yochanan

Yavneh

THE TWO APPROACHESHow the Jews Reacted to the Destruction.

The Two Approaches to the Destruction

There were two different approaches to the destruction of the Temple;

the approach of the ZealotsZealots, and the approach of Rabbi Yochanan ben Rabbi Yochanan ben

Zakkai Zakkai and his followers.

Their main thought was to ‘fight to the death’ rather than to be sold into slavery by the Romans.

They believed that all Jews should think like them

They fought at the fortress Masada for some time.

They believed in as little violence as possible

They were more worried about saving Jewish ways

Here is an overview:

The Zealots

Once Jerusalem was captured, they succeeded in escaping to the fortress Masada, which King Herod had built many years before.

The Zealots

The Zealots then lived there for a period of time until the Romans came to fight.

Map of Masada and its features1. Upper ending of the “Snake Path”2. Housing units with “triclinia”3. Storerooms4. Thermal baths5. Northern palace (three levels)6. Administrative palace 7. Observation point8. Synagogue 9. Casemate wall10. Roman breach and assault ramp11. West entrance12. Bursecai tower (tanners workshop)13. Western palace14. Byzantine church 15. Officials' quarter16. Guard tower17. Residences18. Round columbarium19. Huge water-cistern20. South fortress21. Casemate wall and zealots dwellings22. Monastic cell

The Zealots

When the Romans came to fight, they used weapons such as battering rams and high towers from which trained archers would shoot arrows.

The Zealots

The Jews, although they used weapons, had a lot of safety, for the walls of Masada were taller than three men on top of each other, and the double walls were each as thicker than the length of a man’s arm.

The Zealots

When the Romans finally broke through the walls of

Masada, they found all the Jews who had been inside the

fortress, lying dead on the floor.

Once they realized that they could not win the war, the

Jews came to a realization that it would be better to

commit suicide, rather than to be sold in slavery by the

Romans. For, there they would most likely be forced to to

act against the name of G-d.

Rabbi Yochanan ben ZakkaiRabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai was a very

wise and well respected man. He succeeded in saving Jewish ways by doing a number of things…

Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai

1. First off, R’ Yochanan analyzed the

situation and realized that there was no

defeating the Romans, but he did not

panic.


2. Secondly, R’ Yochanan was not thinking

about saving himself, yet saving everyone

else and Jewish ways.


3. Thirdly, he thought up a plan which would

not require violence, yet would still save

Judaism. However, he had to make sure that

the plan was fool-proof, for this might be the

only chance he would get to save Judaism.


4. Lastly, R’ Yochanan acted and put his

plan into action. In that way, he saved all

Jewish ways. Here is what he did…


R’ Yochanan decided that the best way to be

snuck out of Jerusalem was to climb into an un-

used coffin and have two of his pupils pretend

to be leaving Jerusalem to bury him. Why he

needed to get out of Jerusalem-I will explain

shortly.


Two of his pupils, Rabbi Eliezer, and Rabbi

Yehoshua snuck R’ Yochanan out of Jerusalem in

a coffin. R’ Eliezer held the head of the coffin,

while R’ Yehoshua held the other end. Together

they went to a gate leading out of Jerusalem,

where they were met by Roman guards.


The guards asked them,

““Who is this, you are carrying”Who is this, you are carrying”The two Rabbis responded,

““He just passed away, and did you not He just passed away, and did you not know that we do not bury the dead know that we do not bury the dead

inside Jerusalem?”inside Jerusalem?”The guards once again spoke,

““If he is dead then take him out.”If he is dead then take him out.”So they did.


Once out of the city, the two Rabbis took R’ Yochanan out of the city and the three went directly to Vespasian.

On seeing R’ Yochanan he immediately spoke,

““Is it you, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai? Tell Is it you, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai? Tell me what you desire, and I will give it to me what you desire, and I will give it to

you.”you.”R’ Yochanan answered,

““I want nothing-but Yavneh [the city] and I want nothing-but Yavneh [the city] and its scholars to continue learning torah its scholars to continue learning torah

there.”there.”


Then R’ Yochanan explained a vision he had. Vespasian was to become emperor. Vespasian then said,

““If your prophecy becomes true, I will If your prophecy becomes true, I will give you Yavneh.”give you Yavneh.”

R’ Yochanan’s vision became true shortly after, and in return, he received Yavneh.


When R’ Yochanan received the city of Yavneh,

he continued to keep the torah, perform all the

mitzvot, and basically continue Jewish life

there. It is appropriate to say that he saved the

religion of Judaism-of course with G-d’s help.

THE MOST INSPIRING APPROACHIn my opinion…

The Most Inspiring Approach

First off I will state that I find the

approach of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai

and his followers and his followers to be more inspiring to

me. Why? I will now explain…


As it is obvious, R’ Yochanan’s act was one

of pure genius, and thought. He devised a

plan to save Judaism, without violating any

mitzvot, and avoiding as much violence as

possible.


He started off by thinking to himself: no

doubt, the Romans cannot be defeated.

BUT HE DID NOT PANIC! He simply and

without fuss left than plan, and so to

speak thought of a ‘plan B’.


He then thought up a ‘plan B’ so flawless that

it would trick the Romans.

Here , we can identify an important trait

which a leader (and really a hero) must have:leader (and really a hero) must have:

PERSEVERANCEPERSEVERANCE


Then R’ Yochanan took two of his pupils,

and actually performed the daring act.

Here we find yet another trait in R’

Yochanan:

BRAVERYBRAVERY


Once R’ Yochanan completed his task, he

had saved-NOT HIMSELF-but the entire

Jewish nation.

Another trait is identified in R’ Yochanan:

BEING UN-SELFISHBEING UN-SELFISH


So, as you can see Rabbi Yochanan is not

only a savior, not only a good torah scholar

and role model, but also a hero. That is

one of the main reasons I find his

approach the most inspiring.

The Most Inspiring ApproachR’ Yochanan

a.a. PerseveredPersevered

b.b. Was braveWas brave

c.c. Was un-selfishWas un-selfishAnd that was what really caused him to save

Judaism; as opposed to the zealots, who stuck to one idea, and although showed bravery, were not as flexible to get their plan done, as was R’ Yochanan.

CONCLUSION

Conclusion

I find R’ Yochanan’s act to be more

inspiring to me, because what he did was

truly an act of heroism, compared to the

Zealot’s actions which were stubbornly

based on one idea.

Documents

By Bentzion Goldman MASADA OR YAVNEH?. Overview Throughout this presentation I will be discussing a few topics: 1. The Background History of the Destruction