Without sovereignty it is not clear how the Jewish experiment makes much sense. The rabbinic story that biblical teachings could effectively be kept outside of the Promised Land did not afford much guidance as to how to manage the actual life of the exiles. The halakhic leadership seems to have made it up as they went along. In the end, it is not surprising that Judaism turned into a pure, refined religion not unlike its Christian sibling.
The real question is how did Judaism preserve in diaspora the sensibilities of the political/economic system it was trying to keep alive for when the people would return to their homeland. Judaism is really all about the future messianic moment. Now comes the true test. Now is when we dig out the time capsule and see what's survived.
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