I am deeply fascinated with biblical times and Jewish history. I appreciate these informative lectures, and the passion with which they are delivered. Our schools and universities are filled with professional teachers but few are called to teach. Teaching is a gift bestowed by G_d, and Dr. Abramson is apparently called. These lectures are a great supplement to my reading.
Henry Abramson I love your Jewish biography series PhD Henry Abramson. I especially loved the lesson on the "kehellat" which taught me a great deal. However, I must correct your discription of Paul of Tarsus. There is not enough room here to go over all the mistakes you made, and it is not my place to critique of fellow historian on this forum, but I just say that most of your description of Paul has either been debunked by modern scholar ship, or simply taken from the anonymous writings of the book of acts, pseudo-pictographic epistles or simply presents church tradition as historical truth. If you wish I will give specific examples please respond to this comment. Otherwise keep up the great work. You are an amazing educator and historian. Thank you for your work. Aka I am an economist and political scientist by education (concentration in international relations). But history is my true love and I have spent 2 1/2 decades studying it passionately. I do not have an official post graduate degree in history per se. But that is basically a technicality at his point in my studies and education.
I am an undergraduate Religious History major and a Jewish Studies minor who has just discovered your videos and I am very appreciative of them. Thank you so much for this fantastic resource! It has been a great source of Knowledge for me
I asked my pastor friend why my New Testament Gospel story of "Mark" had two endings. He had no clue, but advised me to get another Bible. Thank God for real scholars like Rabbi Henry.
Dear Dr. Abramson. Thank you for sharing your passion and deep knowledge of Jewish history. These series have been a great blessing to me and my family. Shalom!
This is the only video I have found on TH-cam that talks in detail about him. Thank you for providing a lot of information on him :D Great informative video.
I thank you for your excellent presentation and in depth information that was way more informative than the first two I saw on TH-cam covering this subject
Your channel and your lectures are such a wonderful gift Dr. Abramson. Thank you vey much for your passion and for sharing such great material so freely. I will be donating to support your efforts. Shalom
Outstanding... I love history and my wife and I are now learning more Jewish History as our youngest Daughter had her Bat Mitzvah this past Saturday. Thank you for your lectures I have seen several now and am most interested in learning about the Third Temple. Thank you again.
I just finished binge watching your videos on Paul of Tarsus, Philo & Josephus and was about to commence this one when my TH-cam feed presented me with hideous images of rockets being launched from Gaza into Israel. It's October 7th and I've been glued to the coverage for hours. I hope all your family, friends & acquaintances in Israel are safe. Even as a lapsed Christian, I pray that Hamas is eliminated from the face of the earth and that our Congress gets its act together to support Israel, even hitting Hezbollah & Iran if necessary. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Great lecture I listened from here in Melbourne Australia! YasherKoach! Bar Kochba according to Maimonides could of been The Moshiach, but he became and unfortunately was killed. Bar Kochba was a brave Jewish leader.
just have to say that I really enjoy your videos. I myself am an African American, I took some courses on Jewish history and have been a fan ever since. I see your history as a great alternative to western civ; it let's you study it from the bottom up. anyways , thanks for the videos.
No, they're not. Black people did not build the pyramids either, unless by build you mean were enslaved the Copts/Arabs/Egyptians and forced to build the pyramids as a whip hurried the workers up.
I am really enjoying your videos. I'm an atheist, but I'm really fascinated by Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions. This is the first time I've heard about all this from the Jewish perspective. I like especially that you tell the history and stories in a nice blend of secular fact and Jewish belief. I'm learning so much, and loving it. Problem: I cannot find the video about Barbata, which is the one you delivered after Bar Kochba. What is the title of the video? I want to watch them in the order you delivered them.
Love all the lectures, but must admit Im a bit disappointed by the newly implemented editing! Always felt the jocular and informal presentation was something that separated these videos from some of the drier coverage of these topics out there. Still very enjoyable ofc, but I already miss the opening joke and banter with the audience! In any case, thanks for posting the presentations, I always look forward to them!
Rabbi Abramson, thanks for the lecture! Really enjoyed it. I do have a question: You said that Bar Kochba forced the Romans out by taking town after town. Still I'm wondering, is there an incident in which Bar Kochba met the Romans victoriously, army to army out on open ground? And do you have any resources you would suggest for getting to the history of the Bar Kochba revolt in greater depth? A biography, perhaps?
Excellent presentation...good lecturer, very articulate and knowledgeable. Interesting how Dr. Abramson put "it" - it was the last attempt by the Jews to regain THEIR land, for 1800 yrs. I guess Bar Kochba and the letters (actually much much more) put to rest whose land Israel was (unless one wants to bring in the Jebusites). I didn't realize what the paragraph in the "Bentsching" was referring to...nor did I realize that the "Av Harachamim" referred to the Rheinland killing of the Jews 1096..the Eleh Ezkerah I knew. Thank you Rabbi.
A thought provoking bit of alt history is: what if the Bar Kochba rebels had waited a few years until Hadrian was dead? They would have had the much mellower Antoninus Pius to deal with, and may have faired a lot better. It's possible Hadrian was predisposed to crack down because his reign had begun with the Kitos rebellion, which happened in Trajan's last year and was Hadrian's first problem to deal with on becoming emperor.
Thank you for another great lecture. I humbly request a full lecture on Zionism as a whole. You have touched on this topic briefly in past videos, but not in full form. Thank you.
I also much enjoy learning from Rabbi Abramson's lectures. He brings together what is appropos. The 20th century represents something of a major milestone in the Jewish story. I am not saying End of Galus, but while being a century of great tragedy, it was simultaneously a century of Redemption - Geulah. The creation of the State of Israel, like a resurrection from the dead. Suddenly Jews went from being the patient suffering "wanderers" to being the MIRACLE PEOPLE. Especially after the 1967 War. What holds the future? How can anyone know? There are rumblings even now, people waking up, realizing their Jewish roots. The Soviets tried to make people forget God, and forget their Jewish heritage. So did the Spanish Inquisition, in their zeal to force Jews to become Christian. How many millions of Anusim are living throughout Latin America, forgetful of their Jewish ancestry. In the USA, the dangers of assimilation, intermarriage, and secularism pose a different kind of threat. The survival of Judaism is a slow and steady work, one generation to the next. Israel is grateful for the Evangelicals who ardently labor for Israeli success. But please do not aid and abet the missionaries. In my view, Jewish knowledge (and practice) of its culture, religion and history are also essential keys to passing on our identity as Beni Avraham.
Listeners in Mesa, AZ demand more jokes! ;) I love it when you explain Hebrew terms. "Kochab" was particularly useful for me, being a Latter-day Saint (Mormon). In a passage that Joseph Smith purports to be a translation of a text written by Abraham he uses the word "Kokab" to refer to star, with "Kokabeam" as its plural. It lends the document a bit more authenticity when one can see "kochab" and "kochabim" in those words. Many thanks.
Very good presentation. Even a not-so-bright Christian like myself was able to follow and learn a lot. Two questions if I may: (a) After Bar Kokhba, did any center of Jewish scholars remained in the Holy Land. Perhaps the followers of Rabbi Akiva? Until when? (b) I see that in 120 ce there was still a sizeable Jewish community living in the holy land. Were they later expelled by the Romans? Or did they migrate away little by little on their own will?
If I'm not mistaken the people who messed around with the torches were the Sadducees. They needed the calendar to fall out in a specific way based on their "literal" interpretation of the Torah.
Most informative. One question: I am under the impression that Lag B'Omer was originally a celebration of the liberation of Yerushalaim and later restructured to the story of Akiba and his students. What have you researches have to comment on this take? Again, thank you for the stimulating series of history programs. Fred Rothstein
I have to admit that you have very impartial approach to this message of Jewish history, and conveying it well. I only wish more rabbis would be like that.
Great teaching Rabbi Abramson. I pray May Hashem keep using you on these wonderful teachings that help us to see what happened after the Second Temple was destroyed. Just wanted to add that Samaria was purchased by King Omri according to the Tanakh (1 Kings 16:24) The original mountain שֹׁמְר֛וֹן became the Capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, that Hashem had divided (1 Kings 14:8) because of their disobedience to Torah. Also you mentioned that Jesus followers( jews) who adopted Christianity, but Christianity did not become a religion until 325 AD by Constantine, who supposedly became Christian( Jewish Messiah Follower) and only then Christianity became a Religion. The first followers of Yashua יֵשׁוּעַ were all jews (no gentiles) until Rabbi Shaul became a believer years later .and was sent to the gentiles. Thank you so much once again,and G-d Bless you.
Actually the roman empire did stretch out to Asia at different times. Its interesting to hear Rabbi Akkiva thought Bar Kochba was moschiach....also Jews thought King David then Cyrus...yet I often hear negative lashron hara about Chabad since some of them think their Rebbe was/is...sad since they are very active bringing fellow Jews back to Torah life . We all need to stick together today...I really enjoy you classes.I listened to Rabbi Wein for years and now added you to my favorites.Todah
mitzvah golem correction!! Rabbi Akiva did not think that Bar Kochba was the Messiah. He thought he TOOK be the messiah if me completed the messianic tasks and prophecies that were still left (after he had already accomplished several)
I would like to see your opinion (1) on the 363 atempted rebuilt of the temple and (2) the 688 construction of the dome, is it safe to say that the jewish attachment or occupincy of Jerusalem was ended by that act of 688.
Kozev from Kosiba means to let down. Sheker means lie. This would make sense because ultimately Bar Kochva let down the Jewish People. You gave a very enjoyable lecture!
I have always been fascinated by this story but I tend to wonder why the Jews fought this war, knowing they would lose? I can't imagine that Bar Kochba thought he could win given the sheer size of the Roman Army. Did he think maybe the Romans would ask for a ceasefire to minimize losses? Curious as to your thoughts....great video as well.
Sometimes I feel Henry that if Israel had had better negotiators, they could have kept the Romans on friendlier terms. Julius Caesar for example, basically wanted to leave Israel alone and independent. We caused our own tsurus with our infighting. The Hasmoneans degenerated into civil war decades after the Maccabees. A heartbreak.
+Batu Khan Geography cursed them. Israel is the crossroads of the middle east, the epicenter of all the rich trade routes....hence corruption both internally and externally. The biggest problems happened because of Rome's worst cancer.....psychotic Emperors like Nero and Caligula who taxed the provinces for all their stupid extravagances. If Rome had stayed a Republic, I believe Israel would have been fine. Sadly, Israel played a big part in these problems, namely civil wars btw the Pharisees and Saducees. We do have the capacity to be our own worst enemy.
Very informative historical narrative. I would just like to bring to your attention that the Talmud states that when Bar Kochba instructed the amputation of thumbs as an initiation rite into his militia, Rabbi Akiva then realized his mistake, saying, Mashiach would never disfigure and mutilate the children of Israel.
Christ is the Good Samaritan. Because the Pharisees said of him, “aren’t you a Samaritan?” He was teaching a lesson about what the messiah was above and beyond the priest and the Levite. Messiah appeared to many Jews as an enemy (like a Samaritan), but if they would judge him by his fruits they would see, he was in fact a healer and protector.
Could Hadrian's ban on circumcision and castration been the main cause of the war ? ( If so it is really sad , because the ban on castration is extremely praise worthy ...)
Shalom Rabbi ; I have always read that the Samaritan Temple was destroyed by the Maccabees ... And although there was much distrust between us and them they usually fought with us against the Romans ( and today those who live in Haloan serve in the IDF ...
Dr. Abramson, I thought the Samaritan was a Jewish person mixed with Gentile? I’m sure you know best but I wonder how I got the wrong teaching.... thanks for correcting me.
One of Dr. Abramson"s most interesting lectures. I'm also facinated by how Judaism became the religion that it is today. Clearly, there is a big difference between the Temple period and Rabbinic Judaism as it is now practiced.
In Hebrew "kazav"(Heb. כזב) can also mean "deceit," meaning, they called Shimon Bar-Cosibah by the name "Bar-Coziva" , or "son of deception." Bar-Cosibah, as we all know from the Jerusalem Talmud, killed his maternal uncle (Heb. חביבו), Rabbi El'azar HaModa'e.
About Your conference on Paul, You spoke about jesus, are You aware the the word jesus came from two different words created by what is now known as the Vatican Empire, the two words are Latin: ie which means To Exalt or To Hail, and the other is Greek sus which means zeus, I learned this in christian mission college and also confirmed by a Jesuit Proffessor Priest. I'm an Ex-Ordained non- denominational christian minister who used the king Usher James Bible which is an off-shute from The Luciferian Text of king Usher James written by Sir Francis Bacon a cipher code Genious. I've since Converted TOO Judaism and am an Observant Ultra Sfardic Orthodox Jew & what I have learned about Yeshu from Rabbi Yaron Reuven and The Truth about The History of jesus/Yeshu & also Rabbi Tovia Singer & Rabbi Mattisyahu Glazerson of Torah codes, Shalom n BLESSINGS and Absolutely LUV Your History Conferences and Your jokes, You Are Superb 😁😄😄😄😉😉I'm also a Care Provider for an Elderly man and his wife, Shalom See You in Yerushalayim, BLESSINGS Over You n Yours, Chayim Avarshina Ben Avraham
He had all the tel tale signs of being messiaih, til he didnt. What i find fascinating is that jesus didnt have any of these signs, christians say he will fulfill these signs when he comes back. But its fascinating that ben fulfilled most of these signs and jesus didnt even come close. Yet fast forward to today and no gentile worships ben but jesus instead. Rabbis and the tanahk will tell you what these signs are. None a miraculous, all are simple things. Yet ben did it. Anybody else find history of the messiahs fascinating?
If asked, a modern-day Samaritan in Israel (circa 600 in number) will say that he is not a Jew but he is of the Children of Israel. A Samaritan can opt to carry both Israeli and Palestinian ID cards, the only citizens in this part of the world able to do so.
Thank you for a very interesting video. The only place I had heard of Bar Kochba and Rabbi Akiva was in Leon Uris' Exodus. I wonder if you would comment on how accurate that book is historically?
After 6 years of this video, on the second candles of Hanukkah today on Shabbat eve, i completed the 666 like on this video. I don't know how i feel about it
I don't get it, how come the Jews couldn't just have gotten together and raised money to rebuild the temple. It seems to me that if this building was so religiously important in that they lament it so deathly, it should not have been an issue at all. It's not as if the Jewish merchants/loan sharks/bureaucrats who operated within Judea as well as extensively in Alexandria and Rome itself couldn't have pooled the money extremely quickly. That begs the question: was Herod's Temple being used as a political effort to garner sympathy from the Roman people kind of like the contemporary effect of the Holocaust used to extract guilt from Europeans and (curiously, since we liberated the camps) Americans?
+Mike Ashmore It was not a question of financial ability, but of having approval of Rome to rebuild a national symbol that Rome had destroyed in the first place. It was not so much an economic issue, as it was a political issue. Had the Jews done it on their own without the approval of the empire of which they were apart, it would have been illegal, and Rome would have put a stop to it immediately.
Plus, I don't really like the fact that you're talking about using the Holocaust to extract guilt from Europeans and Americans, but quite frankly, these days even if we did, it wouldn't seem to work very well. lol In the end, sovereign nations will do what sovereign nations think is in their best interest. Usually under this premise, there isn't much compassion or guilt involved. I think Hadrian might have wanted to do it in an effort to diplomatically bring the Jews back under the Roman fold. They were, after all, under the empire, and having citizens who are happy with your empire is far better than having citizens who hate it. No one loves an empire that destroys their most valued holy site. Hadrian probably knew this, hence his idea to rebuild the temple.
I don't buy the historic interpretation of the students of Rabbi Akiva dying since the Talmud says they died because of their lack of respect to one another. Had they died in battle I don't think the Talmud would have needed to explain the phenomenon of 24,000 students dying, nor would we mourn the demise. Since the source of this story is the Talmud I think we have to take it or leave it.
After gay emperor Hadrian's visiting Jerusalem in 130 BC with his favorite young handsome Antinoos, the Jews decided to fight the Romans and their way of life. Antinoos soon died in Egypt, drowning in River Nile.
Anthony Booker You are very correct. In the next chapter after the Beasts from the land and sea are introduced, The Son of Man coming in the clouds sums up the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, and the angel that follows with the sickle for the second harvest is the massacre at Bethar. John recorded that “...and the blood flowed to the horses bridles for a distance of 1600 stadia. This was over 40 yrs before the event that the Jerusalem Talmud subsequently memorializes, “...and the blood flowed to the horses nostrils for 1600 stadia”. Bar Kochba and Rabbi Akiva were at least one fulfillment of John’s prophetic vision. Likewise, Bar Kochba is a great fit for the “the prince who is to come” whose people effect the desolation that is decreed in Daniel chapter 9. Spot on brother!
So many false prophesies. All while the Greeks were delivering to man a new epistemology and a new method of apprehending reality individually rather than tribally. Reason and logic are the tools of the individual used to throw off the tribe.
@@goldengun9970 Was he born in Bethlehem? is he a son of David the answer to those is a no by the way so he is not the Messiah. the biggest one is that he is still in the grave.
@MrChemenger the messiah birthplace is not given. Micha was referencing the messiah as coming from David who as born in Bethlehem. And jesus needs a line to David through a biological father. What you have with bar kochba is him not fulfilling the messianic prophecies and being killed by the romans. Sound familiar?
How the Talmud includes “Bar Kochba” died - killed on 135 and you say Talmud is “oral sayings of Pt. Moses”??? “Bar Kochba” or “son of Kozba” means “son of the star” and “son of lie”, because he was “liar Messiah”. On his golden Shekel found in Adulam cave he was Luciferian Messiah, which you still waiting for…Jesus of Nazareth is just Pauline myth…Jesus=Jesa-us = Yesa-fire=Yesa sun to abolish the “call of Prophet Yesa”; you still waiting for the Satan Messiah… Saul-Paul of Tarsus (near Antioch) is Apollo- Apollon-Apollonius of Tayana nearby too… Shimon Son of the “morning Star- son of Lucifer”- Simon Bin Kozba/ Bar-Kokhba \Bar-Kochba- the false Messiah (Do Jews know their king Messiah is Lucifer?) The year 132 AD; obeying the Emperor will be challenged by a rival, a Jewish leader in Jerusalem who did not preach peace, he preached a guerrilla war. His name was “Simon son of the star”, (Hebrew: בן סימון של הכוכב ) was given the surname Shimon Bin Kozba - Bar Kochba, (Aramaic for "Son of lie"), after devastating of his revolt, the rabbinical writers referred to by “Shimon bar Kokhba” or "Shimon bar Kozba" (Hebrew: בר כוזיבא), "Son of the lie" or "Son of deception”, many Jews at that era felt that Shimon has better claim of the title Messiah than any other did. He was a descendant to the royal family of King Pt. David. He had small but loyal followers. He spoke out against Rome. Unlike other, Shimon will fight Romans to restore an independent Israel. The spark that starts Shimon comes from the roman emperor Hadrian, who built a Temple, dedicated to the Roman god Jupiter (Greater Planet), in the place of the great Temple of Jerusalem. To the Jewish people this is a blasphemous desecration, to send shock waves through the city. The main thrust of Shimon war seems to have been a guerilla war fair, so we can imagine that these bands of fighters got out and jumped on the legionnaires by surprise from underground caves where they stored food, supplies, and weaponry. When the war actually broke out, it was initially a tremendous military success, he because, and his men, knew how to run a guerrilla war and knew how to run it. His campaign was so successful, that it wiped out an entire Roman legion. So he was called “Nazi Yezrael” or “Prince of Israel” as savior military victorious leader waiting for (Still waiting for). He frees Jerusalem from Roman occupation than defeats Romans throughout. But Roman army decided to exterminate Hebrews completely, on 135 AD, the roman war began and eliminated the guerilla, on sea south border mount Masada citadel, after an encirclement of the citadel by Emperor Adrian army, Hebrews preferred a common suicide, none stayed alive, than surrender. Emperor Adrian demolished Jerusalem and built a new roman style town. The rest of Hebrews were expelled out of the country and forbids circumcision, they resided in Alexandria, and few others dispersed out around Mideast. Muslim
Rabbi ... the comparison of inner city (presumably black folk) helping a stranded white man (rather than middle class white folk) was a very bad analogy when seeking to illustrate the good samaritan.
He's actually telling on himself, cause the Torah tells that poverty is part of the curses that would befall the seed of Israel (Deuteronomy 28:43-44, 46).
Jesus was right. A false Messiah came in his own name and the Jews accepted him, but the real Messiah that came in His Fathers Name, they rejected. Is it any wonder that HaShem punished them by throwing them out of the land and not allowing them to return for 2 thousand years?
Surely the irony isn’t completely lost on Jews that all the great rabbis supported this false messiah, leading to the total and utter destruction of the nation, even to the point where Jews were not allowed to come within viewing distance of the promised land, meanwhile they rejected the real Messiah, who conquered Rome itself, and got the entire Roman Empire, including the Emperor himself, to go down on bended knee and worship the God of Israel.
It's disturbing that when the revolt failed he went from being a "star" to being a "liar". The adoration of the Pharasees was quickly revoked when the revolution was snuffed. I also didn't realize that Akiva's Rabbinical students could double as a military entity .This makes the students both future religious and military leaders. It also means that Akiva was executed for military crimes against Rome. Throughout the millennium , it has never been religious persecution or anti semitism ... It has been about political and economic control. The mentality of "diaspora" is one of never assimilating and never belonging. The Talmud teaches to dictate rather than be dictated to . As guest of a foreign land, Talmudic Jews alway had the urge to take over an economy and tear it away from the indigenous population . Am I wrong Rabbi?
I am deeply fascinated with biblical times and Jewish history. I appreciate these informative lectures, and the passion with which they are delivered. Our schools and universities are filled with professional teachers but few are called to teach.
Teaching is a gift bestowed by G_d, and Dr. Abramson is apparently called.
These lectures are a great supplement to my reading.
Henry Abramson I love your Jewish biography series PhD Henry Abramson. I especially loved the lesson on the "kehellat" which taught me a great deal.
However, I must correct your discription of Paul of Tarsus. There is not enough room here to go over all the mistakes you made, and it is not my place to critique of fellow historian on this forum, but I just say that most of your description of Paul has either been debunked by modern scholar ship, or simply taken from the anonymous writings of the book of acts, pseudo-pictographic epistles or simply presents church tradition as historical truth.
If you wish I will give specific examples please respond to this comment.
Otherwise keep up the great work. You are an amazing educator and historian. Thank you for your work.
Aka I am an economist and political scientist by education (concentration in international relations). But history is my true love and I have spent 2 1/2 decades studying it passionately.
I do not have an official post graduate degree in history per se. But that is basically a technicality at his point in my studies and education.
Juda h Ben H ur.
I am an undergraduate Religious History major and a Jewish Studies minor who has just discovered your videos and I am very appreciative of them. Thank you so much for this fantastic resource! It has been a great source of Knowledge for me
I love this gentleman. He is a natural teacher.
Thank you Rabbi. Bar Kochba has always fascinated me. I would like to have met him ! Such a remarkable man !
More on his Rebellion in our live chat tonight at 9pm!
P.S. not a Rabbi, just a regular guy.
I asked my pastor friend why my New Testament Gospel story of "Mark" had two endings. He had no clue, but advised me to get another Bible. Thank God for real scholars like Rabbi Henry.
Henry is not a rabbi, just a scholar. He'll tell you so himself.
Dear Dr. Abramson. Thank you for sharing your passion and deep knowledge of Jewish history. These series have been a great blessing to me and my family. Shalom!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I appreciate the feedback and I am glad that you have enjoyed the videos!
Tremendous historian! I love his infectious enthusiasm.
This is the only video I have found on TH-cam that talks in detail about him. Thank you for providing a lot of information on him :D Great informative video.
These should be arranged in seasons, to aid us in binge-watching. :-) On to the Babatha lecture!
Thank you Rabbi Henry I've been learning so much from your videos!
I thank you for your excellent presentation and in depth information that was way more informative than the first two I saw on TH-cam covering this subject
I'm not Jewish, but you're my Rabbi
@@HenryAbramsonPhD He might use the term Rabbi in the way its used by New York Police (Jewish and non Jewish)
Your channel and your lectures are such a wonderful gift Dr. Abramson. Thank you vey much for your passion and for sharing such great material so freely. I will be donating to support your efforts. Shalom
Awesome!!! I love your lectures, l tell all my Jewish friends about your youtube channel.
Thanks Dr Abramson, warm regard from Indonesia
Outstanding... I love history and my wife and I are now learning more Jewish History as our youngest Daughter had her Bat Mitzvah this past Saturday. Thank you for your lectures I have seen several now and am most interested in learning about the Third Temple. Thank you again.
Nectar to the ear. Most admirably presented. Bless the womb that bore Him & the; Ever guiding Hand.
I just finished binge watching your videos on Paul of Tarsus, Philo & Josephus and was about to commence this one when my TH-cam feed presented me with hideous images of rockets being launched from Gaza into Israel. It's October 7th and I've been glued to the coverage for hours. I hope all your family, friends & acquaintances in Israel are safe. Even as a lapsed Christian, I pray that Hamas is eliminated from the face of the earth and that our Congress gets its act together to support Israel, even hitting Hezbollah & Iran if necessary. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Great lecture I listened from here in Melbourne Australia!
YasherKoach!
Bar Kochba according to Maimonides could of been The Moshiach, but he became and unfortunately was killed. Bar Kochba was a brave Jewish leader.
Thank you Dr Abramson, very informative
just have to say that I really enjoy your videos. I myself am an African American, I took some courses on Jewish history and have been a fan ever since. I see your history as a great alternative to western civ; it let's you study it from the bottom up.
anyways , thanks for the videos.
No, they're not. Black people did not build the pyramids either, unless by build you mean were enslaved the Copts/Arabs/Egyptians and forced to build the pyramids as a whip hurried the workers up.
no its black bulshit
no u just african no israel pepole deal with that
Looking forward for this lecture!!
Hope you like it!
Not a lot of info about Bar Kochba, really appreciate this talk!
Once again, your reflected light has refracted our darkness...
hi. i recently discovered your videos thanks to the Simon Wiesenthal Center. I loo kforward to watching more of them.
Henry Abramson
Thank you!
Great! Learning the history adds much more to studying the Bible. It brings more meaning and understanding.... Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
thank you for the lecture.
Thank you Dr . Abramson. Enjoying your lectures.
I am really enjoying your videos. I'm an atheist, but I'm really fascinated by Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions. This is the first time I've heard about all this from the Jewish perspective. I like especially that you tell the history and stories in a nice blend of secular fact and Jewish belief. I'm learning so much, and loving it. Problem: I cannot find the video about Barbata, which is the one you delivered after Bar Kochba. What is the title of the video? I want to watch them in the order you delivered them.
Another informative and thorough Shiur. Thank you Dr. Abramson.
Im so interested in your videos....history repeats itself.....what do you think
about the Trump coin in Jerusalem...I am fascinated by your knowledge.
Love all the lectures, but must admit Im a bit disappointed by the newly implemented editing! Always felt the jocular and informal presentation was something that separated these videos from some of the drier coverage of these topics out there. Still very enjoyable ofc, but I already miss the opening joke and banter with the audience! In any case, thanks for posting the presentations, I always look forward to them!
Rabbi Abramson, thanks for the lecture! Really enjoyed it. I do have a question: You said that Bar Kochba forced the Romans out by taking town after town. Still I'm wondering, is there an incident in which Bar Kochba met the Romans victoriously, army to army out on open ground? And do you have any resources you would suggest for getting to the history of the Bar Kochba revolt in greater depth? A biography, perhaps?
Excellent presentation...good lecturer, very articulate and knowledgeable. Interesting how Dr. Abramson put "it" - it was the last attempt by the Jews to regain THEIR land, for 1800 yrs. I guess Bar Kochba and the letters (actually much much more) put to rest whose land Israel was (unless one wants to bring in the Jebusites). I didn't realize what the paragraph in the "Bentsching" was referring to...nor did I realize that the "Av Harachamim" referred to the Rheinland killing of the Jews 1096..the Eleh Ezkerah I knew. Thank you Rabbi.
A thought provoking bit of alt history is: what if the Bar Kochba rebels had waited a few years until Hadrian was dead? They would have had the much mellower Antoninus Pius to deal with, and may have faired a lot better. It's possible Hadrian was predisposed to crack down because his reign had begun with the Kitos rebellion, which happened in Trajan's last year and was Hadrian's first problem to deal with on becoming emperor.
Alternative history: fun, but endless...
@@HenryAbramsonPhDdidn't you forget to explain how Bar Kochba died?
Thank you for another great lecture.
I humbly request a full lecture on Zionism as a whole. You have touched on this topic briefly in past videos, but not in full form.
Thank you.
Thank you so much!
I also much enjoy learning from Rabbi Abramson's lectures. He brings together what is appropos. The 20th century represents something of a major milestone in the Jewish story. I am not saying End of Galus, but while being a century of great tragedy, it was simultaneously a century of Redemption - Geulah. The creation of the State of Israel, like a resurrection from the dead. Suddenly Jews went from being the patient suffering "wanderers" to being the MIRACLE PEOPLE. Especially after the 1967 War. What holds the future? How can anyone know? There are rumblings even now, people waking up, realizing their Jewish roots. The Soviets tried to make people forget God, and forget their Jewish heritage. So did the Spanish Inquisition, in their zeal to force Jews to become Christian. How many millions of Anusim are living throughout Latin America, forgetful of their Jewish ancestry. In the USA, the dangers of assimilation, intermarriage, and secularism pose a different kind of threat. The survival of Judaism is a slow and steady work, one generation to the next. Israel is grateful for the Evangelicals who ardently labor for Israeli success. But please do not aid and abet the missionaries. In my view, Jewish knowledge (and practice) of its culture, religion and history are also essential keys to passing on our identity as Beni Avraham.
Listeners in Mesa, AZ demand more jokes! ;) I love it when you explain Hebrew terms. "Kochab" was particularly useful for me, being a Latter-day Saint (Mormon). In a passage that Joseph Smith purports to be a translation of a text written by Abraham he uses the word "Kokab" to refer to star, with "Kokabeam" as its plural. It lends the document a bit more authenticity when one can see "kochab" and "kochabim" in those words. Many thanks.
Very good presentation. Even a not-so-bright Christian like myself was able to follow and learn a lot. Two questions if I may: (a) After Bar Kokhba, did any center of Jewish scholars remained in the Holy Land. Perhaps the followers of Rabbi Akiva? Until when? (b) I see that in 120 ce there was still a sizeable Jewish community living in the holy land. Were they later expelled by the Romans? Or did they migrate away little by little on their own will?
The Samaritans fought with us in nearly every war against the Romans . In the last war they suffered extremely large losses .
Wonderful, I always learn so much from your lectures
Thank you so much!
Very interesting.
Love your lectures.
If I'm not mistaken the people who messed around with the torches were the Sadducees. They needed the calendar to fall out in a specific way based on their "literal" interpretation of the Torah.
I find it quite interesting that many think that the Scottish Thistle is depicted on one side of the Bar Kochba coins...
Most informative.
One question: I am under the impression that Lag B'Omer was originally a celebration of the liberation of Yerushalaim and later restructured to the story of Akiba and his students. What have you researches have to comment on this take?
Again, thank you for the stimulating series of history programs.
Fred Rothstein
Very interesting
Thank you!
I have to admit that you have very impartial approach to this message of Jewish history, and conveying it well. I only wish more rabbis would be like that.
Great teaching Rabbi Abramson. I pray May Hashem keep using you on these wonderful teachings that help us to see what happened after the Second Temple was destroyed. Just wanted to add that Samaria was purchased by King Omri according to the Tanakh (1 Kings 16:24) The original mountain שֹׁמְר֛וֹן became the Capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, that Hashem had divided (1 Kings 14:8) because of their disobedience to Torah. Also you mentioned that Jesus followers( jews) who adopted Christianity, but Christianity did not become a religion until 325 AD by Constantine, who supposedly became Christian( Jewish Messiah Follower) and only then Christianity became a Religion. The first followers of Yashua יֵשׁוּעַ were all jews (no gentiles) until Rabbi Shaul became a believer years later .and was sent to the gentiles. Thank you so much once again,and G-d Bless you.
Great lecture !
Did bar kochba also believe that he himself was The Messiah? Thank you!
Actually the roman empire did stretch out to Asia at different times. Its interesting to hear Rabbi Akkiva thought Bar Kochba was moschiach....also Jews thought King David then Cyrus...yet I often hear negative lashron hara about Chabad since some of them think their Rebbe was/is...sad since they are very active bringing fellow Jews back to Torah life . We all need to stick together today...I really enjoy you classes.I listened to Rabbi Wein for years and now added you to my favorites.Todah
mitzvah golem correction!! Rabbi Akiva did not think that Bar Kochba was the Messiah. He thought he TOOK be the messiah if me completed the messianic tasks and prophecies that were still left (after he had already accomplished several)
Check out Unbiased History , the 5 good emperors episode :) it's about this too.
I would like to see your opinion (1) on the 363 atempted rebuilt of the temple and (2) the 688 construction of the dome, is it safe to say that the jewish attachment or occupincy of Jerusalem was ended by that act of 688.
Very good. Thank you
Kozev from Kosiba means to let down. Sheker means lie. This would make sense because ultimately Bar Kochva let down the Jewish People. You gave a very enjoyable lecture!
Great lecture
I have always been fascinated by this story but I tend to wonder why the Jews fought this war, knowing they would lose? I can't imagine that Bar Kochba thought he could win given the sheer size of the Roman Army. Did he think maybe the Romans would ask for a ceasefire to minimize losses? Curious as to your thoughts....great video as well.
Sometimes I feel Henry that if Israel had had better negotiators, they could have kept the Romans on friendlier terms. Julius Caesar for example, basically wanted to leave Israel alone and independent. We caused our own tsurus with our infighting. The Hasmoneans degenerated into civil war decades after the Maccabees. A heartbreak.
+dkary555
I have always agreed with this analysis. Jews of that time were like ISIS of today.... fanatical, inflexible and unwilling to compromise
+Batu Khan Geography cursed them. Israel is the crossroads of the middle east, the epicenter of all the rich trade routes....hence corruption both internally and externally. The biggest problems happened because of Rome's worst cancer.....psychotic Emperors like Nero and Caligula who taxed the provinces for all their stupid extravagances. If Rome had stayed a Republic, I believe Israel would have been fine. Sadly, Israel played a big part in these problems, namely civil wars btw the Pharisees and Saducees. We do have the capacity to be our own worst enemy.
David Kary
But the emperors could be worked with Hadrian (second rebellion) was not antithetical to the Jews.
But if they were certain Bar Kokhba was the Messiah they were certain they would not be defeated.
So when did the שלוש שבועות get into effect?
Very informative historical narrative. I would just like to bring to your attention that the Talmud states that when Bar Kochba instructed the amputation of thumbs as an initiation rite into his militia, Rabbi Akiva then realized his mistake, saying, Mashiach would never disfigure and mutilate the children of Israel.
Christ is the Good Samaritan. Because the Pharisees said of him, “aren’t you a Samaritan?” He was teaching a lesson about what the messiah was above and beyond the priest and the Levite. Messiah appeared to many Jews as an enemy (like a Samaritan), but if they would judge him by his fruits they would see, he was in fact a healer and protector.
Jesus wasn't a Samaritan
Could Hadrian's ban on circumcision and castration been the main cause of the war ? ( If so it is really sad , because the ban on castration is extremely praise worthy ...)
It is sad that the ban on castration included circumcision. Castration is strongly condemned in Judaism if only he had stoped there ...
Shalom Rabbi ; I have always read that the Samaritan Temple was destroyed by the Maccabees ... And although there was much distrust between us and them they usually fought with us against the Romans ( and today those who live in Haloan serve in the IDF ...
What happened to Bar Kochba?
Dr. Abramson, I thought the Samaritan was a Jewish person mixed with Gentile? I’m sure you know best but I wonder how I got the wrong teaching.... thanks for correcting me.
Christcenteredjenn.
Is it possible to get a source for the story of the murderer who admitted killing a woman's husband so she would not be an agunah anymore (18:30)
Very recommendable
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform....X
Where was Bar Kochba born?
One of Dr. Abramson"s most interesting lectures. I'm also facinated by how Judaism became the religion that it is today. Clearly, there is a big difference between the Temple period and Rabbinic Judaism as it is now practiced.
Yes, two messiah. One as the servant and one as warrior. But same person two times comings. Yes!
The thought of Marwan building The Dome of The Rock on the site incenses me and I'm a shiksa.
Well.
Bar Kochba actually did not manage to retake Jerusalem from Roman control.
i thing the parabol with the lion and the haron is an of the Aesops Tales
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wolf_and_the_Crane
Shalom
Would this be the origins of the christ like person since Shimon Bar-Cochba was considered the Messiah?
Same person, yes. Not considered the Messiah by all, but by some important people.
@@HenryAbramsonPhD Thank you!
@@HenryAbramsonPhD Is he the first considered Messiah of the faith?
Grossingers is gone but as long as the good Doctor keeps telling his jokes, the Borscht Belt lives ! New ?
Patricia. January 1, 2022
Ha!
Treinando meu ouvido a ouvir em ˆînglès e,aprender com isso.Nãõ entendo,mas,entenderei.
Gracias 🇵🇷✌️🙏🏽❤️
In Hebrew "kazav"(Heb. כזב) can also mean "deceit," meaning, they called Shimon Bar-Cosibah by the name "Bar-Coziva" , or "son of deception." Bar-Cosibah, as we all know from the Jerusalem Talmud, killed his maternal uncle (Heb. חביבו), Rabbi El'azar HaModa'e.
Thanks for the contribution.
That was a really poor insight.
There is very little about the rebellion or Bar Kochba.
About Your conference on Paul, You spoke about jesus, are You aware the the word jesus came from two different words created by what is now known as the Vatican Empire, the two words are Latin: ie which means To Exalt or To Hail, and the other is Greek sus which means zeus, I learned this in christian mission college and also confirmed by a Jesuit Proffessor Priest. I'm an Ex-Ordained non- denominational christian minister who used the king Usher James Bible which is an off-shute from The Luciferian Text of king Usher James written by Sir Francis Bacon a cipher code Genious. I've since Converted TOO Judaism and am an Observant Ultra Sfardic Orthodox Jew & what I have learned about Yeshu from Rabbi Yaron Reuven and The Truth about The History of jesus/Yeshu & also Rabbi Tovia Singer & Rabbi Mattisyahu Glazerson of Torah codes, Shalom n BLESSINGS and Absolutely LUV Your History Conferences and Your jokes, You Are Superb 😁😄😄😄😉😉I'm also a Care Provider for an Elderly man and his wife, Shalom See You in Yerushalayim, BLESSINGS Over You n Yours, Chayim Avarshina Ben Avraham
He had all the tel tale signs of being messiaih, til he didnt. What i find fascinating is that jesus didnt have any of these signs, christians say he will fulfill these signs when he comes back. But its fascinating that ben fulfilled most of these signs and jesus didnt even come close. Yet fast forward to today and no gentile worships ben but jesus instead. Rabbis and the tanahk will tell you what these signs are. None a miraculous, all are simple things. Yet ben did it. Anybody else find history of the messiahs fascinating?
If asked, a modern-day Samaritan in Israel (circa 600 in number) will say that he is not a Jew but he is of the Children of Israel. A Samaritan can opt to carry both Israeli and Palestinian ID cards, the only citizens in this part of the world able to do so.
Interesting
Thank you for a very interesting video. The only place I had heard of Bar Kochba and Rabbi Akiva was in Leon Uris' Exodus. I wonder if you would comment on how accurate that book is historically?
+Henry Abramson Thanks!
After 6 years of this video, on the second candles of Hanukkah today on Shabbat eve, i completed the 666 like on this video.
I don't know how i feel about it
Hmm.
I don't get it, how come the Jews couldn't just have gotten together and raised money to rebuild the temple. It seems to me that if this building was so religiously important in that they lament it so deathly, it should not have been an issue at all. It's not as if the Jewish merchants/loan sharks/bureaucrats who operated within Judea as well as extensively in Alexandria and Rome itself couldn't have pooled the money extremely quickly. That begs the question: was Herod's Temple being used as a political effort to garner sympathy from the Roman people kind of like the contemporary effect of the Holocaust used to extract guilt from Europeans and (curiously, since we liberated the camps) Americans?
+Mike Ashmore the same thing does happen today,its a mix bag of mess
+Mike Ashmore It was not a question of financial ability, but of having approval of Rome to rebuild a national symbol that Rome had destroyed in the first place. It was not so much an economic issue, as it was a political issue. Had the Jews done it on their own without the approval of the empire of which they were apart, it would have been illegal, and Rome would have put a stop to it immediately.
Plus, I don't really like the fact that you're talking about using the Holocaust to extract guilt from Europeans and Americans, but quite frankly, these days even if we did, it wouldn't seem to work very well. lol In the end, sovereign nations will do what sovereign nations think is in their best interest. Usually under this premise, there isn't much compassion or guilt involved.
I think Hadrian might have wanted to do it in an effort to diplomatically bring the Jews back under the Roman fold. They were, after all, under the empire, and having citizens who are happy with your empire is far better than having citizens who hate it. No one loves an empire that destroys their most valued holy site. Hadrian probably knew this, hence his idea to rebuild the temple.
I don't buy the historic interpretation of the students of Rabbi Akiva dying since the Talmud says they died because of their lack of respect to one another. Had they died in battle I don't think the Talmud would have needed to explain the phenomenon of 24,000 students dying, nor would we mourn the demise. Since the source of this story is the Talmud I think we have to take it or leave it.
What’s wrong with them is a good question
After gay emperor Hadrian's visiting Jerusalem in 130 BC with his favorite young handsome Antinoos, the Jews decided to fight the Romans and their way of life. Antinoos soon died in Egypt, drowning in River Nile.
He was the beast of Revelation, Rabbai Akiva was the false prophet
You are much dumber than you look
Nekema insults only prove you are irrelevant
Bert Graef I agree
Anthony Booker You are very correct. In the next chapter after the Beasts from the land and sea are introduced, The Son of Man coming in the clouds sums up the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, and the angel that follows with the sickle for the second harvest is the massacre at Bethar. John recorded that “...and the blood flowed to the horses bridles for a distance of 1600 stadia. This was over 40 yrs before the event that the Jerusalem Talmud subsequently memorializes, “...and the blood flowed to the horses nostrils for 1600 stadia”. Bar Kochba and Rabbi Akiva were at least one fulfillment of John’s prophetic vision. Likewise, Bar Kochba is a great fit for the “the prince who is to come” whose people effect the desolation that is decreed in Daniel chapter 9. Spot on brother!
Interesting analysis.
So many false prophesies. All while the Greeks were delivering to man a new epistemology and a new method of apprehending reality individually rather than tribally. Reason and logic are the tools of the individual used to throw off the tribe.
The only person the Jewish ppl should consider seriously for Messiah is Jesus everyone else just does not fit what their scriptures describe
How do you know bar kochba is not the messiah?
@@goldengun9970 Was he born in Bethlehem? is he a son of David the answer to those is a no by the way so he is not the Messiah. the biggest one is that he is still in the grave.
@MrChemenger the messiah birthplace is not given. Micha was referencing the messiah as coming from David who as born in Bethlehem. And jesus needs a line to David through a biological father.
What you have with bar kochba is him not fulfilling the messianic prophecies and being killed by the romans. Sound familiar?
How the Talmud includes “Bar Kochba” died - killed on 135 and you say Talmud is “oral sayings of Pt. Moses”???
“Bar Kochba” or “son of Kozba” means “son of the star” and “son of lie”, because he was “liar Messiah”. On his golden Shekel found in Adulam cave he was Luciferian Messiah, which you still waiting for…Jesus of Nazareth is just Pauline myth…Jesus=Jesa-us = Yesa-fire=Yesa sun to abolish the “call of Prophet Yesa”; you still waiting for the Satan Messiah…
Saul-Paul of Tarsus (near Antioch) is Apollo- Apollon-Apollonius of Tayana nearby too…
Shimon Son of the “morning Star- son of Lucifer”- Simon Bin Kozba/ Bar-Kokhba \Bar-Kochba- the false Messiah
(Do Jews know their king Messiah is Lucifer?)
The year 132 AD; obeying the Emperor will be challenged by a rival, a Jewish leader in Jerusalem who did not preach peace, he preached a guerrilla war. His name was “Simon son of the star”, (Hebrew: בן סימון של הכוכב ) was given the surname Shimon Bin Kozba - Bar Kochba, (Aramaic for "Son of lie"), after devastating of his revolt, the rabbinical writers referred to by “Shimon bar Kokhba” or "Shimon bar Kozba" (Hebrew: בר כוזיבא), "Son of the lie" or "Son of deception”, many Jews at that era felt that Shimon has better claim of the title Messiah than any other did. He was a descendant to the royal family of King Pt. David. He had small but loyal followers. He spoke out against Rome. Unlike other, Shimon will fight Romans to restore an independent Israel. The spark that starts Shimon comes from the roman emperor Hadrian, who built a Temple, dedicated to the Roman god Jupiter (Greater Planet), in the place of the great Temple of Jerusalem. To the Jewish people this is a blasphemous desecration, to send shock waves through the city. The main thrust of Shimon war seems to have been a guerilla war fair, so we can imagine that these bands of fighters got out and jumped on the legionnaires by surprise from underground caves where they stored food, supplies, and weaponry. When the war actually broke out, it was initially a tremendous military success, he because, and his men, knew how to run a guerrilla war and knew how to run it. His campaign was so successful, that it wiped out an entire Roman legion. So he was called “Nazi Yezrael” or “Prince of Israel” as savior military victorious leader waiting for (Still waiting for). He frees Jerusalem from Roman occupation than defeats Romans throughout. But Roman army decided to exterminate Hebrews completely, on 135 AD, the roman war began and eliminated the guerilla, on sea south border mount Masada citadel, after an encirclement of the citadel by Emperor Adrian army, Hebrews preferred a common suicide, none stayed alive, than surrender. Emperor Adrian demolished Jerusalem and built a new roman style town. The rest of Hebrews were expelled out of the country and forbids circumcision, they resided in Alexandria, and few others dispersed out around Mideast.
Muslim
Rabbi ... the comparison of inner city (presumably black folk) helping a stranded white man (rather than middle class white folk) was a very bad analogy when seeking to illustrate the good samaritan.
He's actually telling on himself, cause the Torah tells that poverty is part of the curses that would befall the seed of Israel (Deuteronomy 28:43-44, 46).
DECISIVE
Bar Kochba was like the ancient Jewish Trump
“Believe me, I’m the greatest! I’m the Messiah! I know the best people!”
Well he was very poor violent bandit/criminal who killed a lion in his own hands,I really doubt he has much in common with Trump...
Jesus was right. A false Messiah came in his own name and the Jews accepted him, but the real Messiah that came in His Fathers Name, they rejected. Is it any wonder that HaShem punished them by throwing them out of the land and not allowing them to return for 2 thousand years?
Surely the irony isn’t completely lost on Jews that all the great rabbis supported this false messiah, leading to the total and utter destruction of the nation, even to the point where Jews were not allowed to come within viewing distance of the promised land, meanwhile they rejected the real Messiah, who conquered Rome itself, and got the entire Roman Empire, including the Emperor himself, to go down on bended knee and worship the God of Israel.
It's disturbing that when the revolt failed he went from being a "star" to being a "liar". The adoration of the Pharasees was quickly revoked when the revolution was snuffed. I also didn't realize that Akiva's Rabbinical students could double as a military entity .This makes the students both future religious and military leaders. It also means that Akiva was executed for military crimes against Rome.
Throughout the millennium , it has never been religious persecution or anti semitism ... It has been about political and economic control. The mentality of "diaspora" is one of never assimilating and never belonging. The Talmud teaches to dictate rather than be dictated to . As guest of a foreign land, Talmudic Jews alway had the urge to take over an economy and tear it away from the indigenous population . Am I wrong Rabbi?
תנחלצנע
rafael picon.