Jerusalem Talmud: Encyclopedia II - Jerusalem Talmud - Historical context

Jerusalem Talmud - Historical context

Like the Babylonian Talmud, the purpose of the Jerusalem Talmud was to elaborate on the Jewish Oral tradition as detailed in the 2nd-century Mishnah, following whose redaction many Jewish scholars living in Roman-controlled Palestine moved to Persia due to the harsh decrees against Jews enacted by the emperor Hadrian after the Bar Kokhba's revolt. The remaining scholars who lived in the Galilee area decided to continue their teachings (at a time when learning Jewish texts or teaching them was forbidden) in the learning centers that had been around since Mishnaic times. The first people to do so were Rabbi Chanina and Rabbi Osheya who started the composing the Jerusalem Talmud in the Galilee.

Although the Jerusalem Talmud was progressing at a similar pace to the Babylonian Talmud, it was much more difficult to learn and teach under the Roman authorities. Schools where what would become the Jerusalem Talmud was being prepared had to be hidden. When the empire under Constantine began to endorse Christianity in 313, decrees were enacted against the Jews and Christians gained control within the Galilee.

During the reign of Emperor Theodosius II the Jewish community was badly stricken. Under the influence of his elder sister, Pulchera, the Byzantine Emperor was pushed towards Orthodox Christianity and an anti-Semitic view which led to the destruction of Jewish synagogues and places of learning. Following this the last great scholars of Palestine, Rav Mana and Rav Yosi redacted the Jerusalem Talmud in approximately the year 400.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Historical context", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki