Torah Centers and Rabbinic Activity in Palestine 70 - 400 C.E. : History and Geographic Distribution

This book contains pioneering research on aspects of society, culture and geography of rabbinic Torah centers in Palestine 70-400 CE. It surveys the history of the centers in their geographic and social context in chronological order.

This book analyses all the known data about rabbinic Torah centers in Palestine during Mishna and Talmudic periods, 70-400 CE, Roman and early Byzantine periods. This research includes interdisciplinary inquiry utilizing archeology, geography, and sociology. This enriches the understanding of the historical background and the scope of rabbinic activity in the different regions. The discussion is arranged in a chronological order highlighting the changes that took place as a result of historical events, the most significant one - the Bar Kokhba revolt that caused relocation of the rabbinic centers. In spite of that rabbinic centers continue to develop until the end of the Talmudic period. This can explain the significant influence of rabbinic Judaism on the later generations.

This book analyses the data about Torah centers and rabbinic activity in Palestine during Mishnaic and Talmudic times, 70–400 CE—the Roman and early Byzantine periods. The research is an interdisciplinary inquiry. It encompasses rabbinic literature as well as archeology, geography, and sociology, thus enriching the discussion of the history and scope of rabbinic activity in the different regions of Palestine. Arranged in chronological order, the book highlights the changes generated by historical events, in particular the relocation of rabbinic centers following the upheaval of the Bar Kokhba Revolt. In spite of this upheaval, Torah centers continued to develop in Palestine for several hundred years, until the end of the period under discussion.