The Emperors and the Jews

Product InformationThe Emperors and the JewsHardcover | 6" x 9" | 350 PagesWritten by: Ari LiebermanPublished by: Mosaica PressAbout this BookAlexander the Great conquers the world, triumphant in battle after battle. Yet when he meets Shimon HaTzaddik, he jumps off his horse and bows down to him. Why?Ptolemy’s translation of the Torah into Greek is joyously celebrated by the Jews of Alexandria, but later Chazal designate the translation as a tragedy to be commemorated with a fast day. Why?Vespasian, astounded by Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai’s (accurate) prediction that he would become emperor, appears ready to grant “any” wish, but the rabbi “limits” his request to asking for Yavneh and its sages. Why?Hadrian was so bad that we add the words “may his bones rot” to his name, yet Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya appears quite at home in the royal court. Why?Marcus Aurelius leads Rome, the implacable enemy of the Jewish people. But when faced with political threats and personal crisis, he turns t