Bibliography
| Title: Jew and Gentile in the Ancient World: Attitudes and Interactions from Alexander to Justinian Type: Book Year: 1993 Abstract: "This volume seeks to explain the apparent success of Judaism during the Hellenistic-Roman period in winning so many converts and "sympathizers" at a time when, apparently, Jews were hated by the Gentile masses. It first discusses the contacts between Jews and non-Jews in the land of Israel, and assesses the strength of Judaism in the Diaspora. Next it deals with official anti-Jewish bigotry (the responses of governments to the Jews), popular prejudice against Jews, and prejudice against Jews among ancient intellectuals. Then it considers the attractions of the Jews: their antiquity, the cardianl virtues, and Moses as the ideal leader. Finally it treats the success of proselytism by Jews in the 3rd, 4th and 5th centuries A.D. Feldman, professor of classics at Yeshiva University in New York, concludes that in the Hellenistic-Roman period Judaism was internally strong ans so was admired by many, even its detractors, especially at a time of general political and economic disarray, and that Judaism took advantage of the tolerance of the polytheistic religions in the Greco-Roman world". Keywords: Cultural and Religious History of Ancient Judaism |