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Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai

Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai. Re-inventor of Judaism “Deeds of loving kindness not sacrifice”. Biography. Born in 30 BCE – lived to be 120 according to legend From a Priestly Family Pharisee Famous teacher in Jerusalem prior to siege and war with Rome Pacifist. During the Siege.

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Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai

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  1. Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai Re-inventor of Judaism “Deeds of loving kindness not sacrifice”

  2. Biography • Born in 30 BCE – lived to be 120 according to legend • From a Priestly Family • Pharisee • Famous teacher in Jerusalem prior to siege and war with Rome • Pacifist

  3. During the Siege • Opposed to the war • Opposed to the Zealots • Argued for peace and surrender to the Romans to save Jerusalem and the Temple • Prophesied the destruction of the Temple • Ran out of patience when food stores were burned

  4. A Plan to Save Judaism • Realizes that the end is near and he must act • Has his students put him in a coffin and request permission to leave the city to bury his body • Zealots guarding the gates want to spear the body to be sure he is dead • Students think quickly and shame Zealots into abandoning this plan

  5. The Plot Continues • Goes to Vespasian and prophesies his rise to power as the next Caesar • Is granted “whatever he wants” • Asks for Yavneh and the Sages and their students • Is granted this and goes to Yavneh • There he learns of the destruction of the Temple

  6. At Yavneh • Rabbi Yohanan focuses on how to move Judaism forward without a Temple and without Jerusalem • Creates rituals and prayers to help Jews remember the Temple even if we don’t have one • Replaces sacrifices with deeds of loving kindness

  7. RYbZ and Jeremiah • Prophesize the destruction of the Temple • Pacifists – against the war – push for peace and reconcilliation with the enemy • Stay in Jerusalem as long as they think there is hope • Focus on the future when the present seems hopeless

  8. RYbZ and Jeremiah continued • Threatened by or beat up by Jews when try to leave Jerusalem • Leave Jerusalem and go to the enemy commander • Are able to save a remnant of Jews to preserve Judaism for the future • Find a new way to please God when sacrifice is no longer available or working

  9. RYbZ’s Legacy • Judaism survives without the Temple • Study and Prayer become the focus of Jewish life • Good deeds, Mitzvot and living a good life become ways to draw close to God • Rabbinic Judaism becomes the norm instead of Torah Judaism • We are Rabbinic Jews

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