Judah and Antoninus

The Romans authorized the rabbis to take over the Jewish people's leadership. The rabbis were politically astute and active both with respect to the Romans as well as with respect to their internal rivals. The rabbis had a vision for the shape of the exilic Jewish people's political character. The question is what was that vision, and what do we think of that vision under today's circumstances.

The rabbinic regime, better known as Judaism, flourished by virtue of its willingness to accommodate Roman rule. By decrying rebellion, the rabbinic regime hitched its future to collaboration with the ruling power, which, at its historical origin was the Roman Empire. Rebbe (R’ Yehuda haNasi) made a deal with Antoninus of Rome, and that collaborationist attitude has defined Judaism ever since.