What was the name of the small group of jews that was especially opposed to Hellenism and Roman Rule?

Answer 1

The Pharisees opposed Hellenism and Roman rule.

Answer:The Maccabees were opposed to Hellenism. They were the Pharisees of their generation, since the Perushim ("Pharisees") is another name for the Torah-sages and scholars. They were not a small group. When we include their students and sympathizers, they were actually the majority of the Jewish people. We call them "few" only in comparison to the Syrian-Greeks whom they fought (and whom the Hellenisers had instigated), and because many of the Jews who sympathized with the Maccabees were unwilling to risk their lives in battle. The book of Maccabees gives the number of the religious fighters as several thousand.

A couple of centuries later, the group who fought Roman rule (in 68 CE) were the Zealots, mentioned in the Talmud (Gittin 56a) as being headstrong and irresponsible. The "Pharisees" (the Torah-Sages) certainly were displeased with Roman rule, but they cautioned against taking action (ibid), knowing it would result in tragedy. Two generations after that, it was Shimon ben Koziba (Bar Kokhba) who led an ill-fated rebellion against the Romans (135 CE), against the counsel of most of the Torah-Sages.

Answer 2

The Maccabees were opposed to Hellenism. They were the Pharisees of their generation, since the Perushim ("Pharisees") is another name for the Torah-sages and scholars. They were not a small group; they were actually the majority of the Jewish people. We call them "few" only in comparison to the Syrian-Greeks whom they fought (and whom the Hellenisers had instigated), and because many of the Jews who sympathized with the Maccabees were unwilling to risk their lives in war. The book of Maccabees gives the number of the religious fighters as several thousand.

The group who fought Roman rule (in 68 CE) were the Zealots, mentioned in the Talmud (Gittin 56a) as being headstrong and irresponsible. The Pharisees (Sages) certainly were displeased with Roman rule, but they cautioned against taking action (ibid). Two generations later, it was Shimon Bar Kokhba who led an ill-fated rebellion against the Romans (135 CE), against the counsel of most of the Torah-Sages.