Babylonian Jews and Sasanian Imperialism in Late Antiquity

by Simcha Gross

From the image offered by the Babylonian Talmud, Jewish elites were deeply embedded within the Sasanian Empire (224-651 CE). The Talmud is replete with stories and discussions that feature Sasanian kings, Zoroastrian magi, fire temples, imperial administrators, Sasanian laws, Persian customs, and more quotidian details of Jewish life. Yet, in the scholarly literature on the Babylonian Talmud and the Jews of Babylonia , the Sasanian Empire has served as a backdrop to a decidedly parochial Jewish story, having little if any direct impact on Babylonian Jewish life and especially the rabbis. Babylonian Jews and Sasanian Imperialism in Late Antiquity advances a radically different understanding of Babylonian Jewish history and Sasanian rule. Building upon recent scholarship, Simcha Gross portrays a more immanent model of Sasanian rule, within and against which Jews invariably positioned and defined themselves. Babylonian Jews realized their traditions, teachings, and social position within the political, social, religious, and cultural conditions generated by Sasanian rule.

Genres: Judaism

360 pages, Hardcover

First published April 11, 2024

Reviews

[Liz]

Continuing my "it's totally possible to idiosyncratically read your way into understanding academic Talmud study, right?" I really enjoyed Simcha Gross's book and the way he looks at the narratives in the Talmud as constructed and in conversation with other narratives from similar periods. The stories that people tell about themselves are stories and that tells you both a ton about what matters to them and how they want to be seen, but it is also only one piece in the puzzle of who they are.
Gross's understanding of Jews in Bavel is that they were much more imbricated in society that the stories sometimes pretend and that there's so much to learn about the complex Sassanian world they lived in.
Also his point that the stam has no sense of humor, which is not just his, but basically needs to be printed on the wall for understanding halakha.

[Gabriel Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting

A very interesting book about, admittedly, a niche subject. However if you are interested in Jewish and Persian history, this would’ve appeal to you. And you will certainly learn a lot which contradicts much of what you thought was true.