Coping with crisis and the negotiation of identity in Jewish antiquity

Margaretha Folmer discusses the loss of yet another Jewish temple, that of Elephantine, in the southernmost part of Egypt, in AD 407 BC, and the reaction and actions of the local community.

Benjamin Bogerd reads the book of Esther as a story outlining the possibility of a good life for the Jews in the Persian diaspora. He discusses the use of Esther's dual identity as a form of strategic assimilation to confront the crisis of life in the diaspora.

Bärry Hartog and Eelco Glas reflect on the incident in 39/40 C.E. when the Roman Emperor Gaius Caligula ordered that a statue of himself be erected in the Temple of Jerusalem. According to available sources, this decision caused a great deal of commotion among Jews. Although the crisis was resolved prematurely, it captured the imagination of several Jewish writers shortly after the events, most notably Philo of Alexandria and Flavius Josephus. Hartog and Glas attempt to explain the differences between the available accounts, taking into account the literary goals of each work.

Albertina Oegema investigates rabbinic parables that arose after the fall of the second temple (third/fourth century current era). She focuses on the tensions in the relations between fathers and sons when confronted with the age of the latter, as depicted in two parables. How is the good life presented in such situations?

Theologians, ministers, pastors, church workers.

The panel lasts approximately 1.5 hours. The course material remains permanently available and can be viewed at any time.

Costs for this online course are € 10.

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