Louis H. Feldman

NO OF PAGES: 679 SUB CAT I: Hellenism SUB CAT II: First Century Judaism SUB CAT III: DESCRIPTION: This book began with the question: How can we explain why the Jews in antiquity--so bitterly hated, as so many scholars have insisted--succeeded in winning so many adherents, whether as "sympathizers" who observed one or more Jewish practices or as full-fledged proselytes? How could the Jews have converted so many when we do not have a single missionary tract and when the only missionaries that we know of by name are those such as Paul, Peter, and Barnabas, who preached the Gospel? Indeed, it would seem that the proper question is, How, in view of the tremendous strength and attractiveness of Hellenism and of the various pagan cults, the Jews managed to avoid assimilation both in the Land of Israel and especially in the Diaspora. This book attempts to address these questions.NOTES: SUBTITLE: Attitudes and Interactions From Alexander to Justinian… (mere)