The Romans at first thought if they allowed the Jews some religious freedoms, the Jews would accept the Romans and assimilate into Roman society, as other conquered people usually did. The Jews could not stand having the Romans occupy Israel, so the Jews revolted and were crushed in 70 AD. The second temple was burned to the ground, and most of the Jews who were not killed were forced to leave Israel and were in exile until 1948 when the modern state of Israel was created by the United Nations.
Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, the two sons of the Jewish King Yannai (Johanan Hyrcanus, 1st century BCE), got the Romans involved in Judea when they asked the Romans to settle a dispute. At first the Romans were cordial; and they actually became party to a military treaty with Judea (Talmud, Avodah Zara 9a). The Romans didn't interfere much in Jewish internal matters, because the main thing that they wanted was taxes and a quiet populace. A couple of decades later, however, they unilaterally abrogated the treaty, and placed Roman governors over the land who afflicted the Jews with crushing taxation (Talmud, Yoma 9a). In the first two centuries CE, things got worse, with the Romans destroying the Second Temple and temporarily outlawing Torah-observances, and the Jews attempting to revolt. The Romans destroyed large numbers of Jewish communities in the Holy Land.
In the early decades of contact between Rome and Judea, the Romans were cordial; and they actually became party to a military treaty with the Jews (Talmud, Avodah Zara 8b). The Romans didn't interfere much in Jewish internal matters, because the main thing that they wanted was taxes and a quiet populace.See also:
Jewish people kept to themselves and had been around for a while. They were originally prosecuted though.
There some periods of cruel Roman repression of Torah-observance (such as the decrees of Hadrian). At other times, the Romans allowed the Jews to practice their religious beliefs as long as they paid their taxes and didn't cause civil unrest in the cities where they lived.
Most of the time, when the Jews paid their taxes and did not revolt, their religious practice was tolerated. However, there were periods of extremely cruel decrees and their enforcement, prohibiting the practice of Torah-commands. One example of the latter was under Vespasian.
As seen throughout history, the Jews were quite beneficial to the economy. Therefore, many rulers allowed them to keep their religious identities in order to keep them happy so they would not resent the country which they served.
Actually, there were times when the Romans outlawed Judaism, such as during the time of Hadrian. During those times that the Romans didn't interfere with the internal life of the Jews, the reason was because the Romans wanted to receive their taxes. That, and making sure none of their colonies planned rebellions, was usually the only thing that the Romans were really concerned about.
They didn't. For the most part. There was a time called "Gizeiros HaShmad" meaning: decrees of destruction-because there were laws forbidding Jews to obey their religion-thereby destroying their spiritual growth. There were however certain times during certain rulers when the Jews were allowed to practice their beliefs.
They didn't. For the most part. There was a time called "Gizeiros HaShmad" meaning: decrees of destruction-because there were laws forbidding Jews to obey their religion-thereby destroying their spiritual growth. There were however certain times during certain rulers when the Jews were allowed to practice their beliefs.
They didn't. For the most part. There was a time called "Gizeiros HaShmad" meaning: decrees of destruction-because there were laws forbidding Jews to obey their religion-thereby destroying their spiritual growth. There were however certain times during certain rulers when the Jews were allowed to practice their beliefs.
Actually, there were times when the Romans outlawed Judaism, such as during the time of Hadrian. During those times that the Romans didn't interfere with the internal life of the Jews, the reason was because the Romans wanted to receive their taxes. That, and making sure none of their colonies planned rebellions, was usually the only thing that the Romans were really concerned about.
All they wanted was payment of taxes and lack of rebellion. They did sometimes suppress Judaism, but often did not.
Diversity issues in the workplace occur when spiritual beliefs and religious practices are forced upon all workers. However, accommodation must be made to allow followers to practice their religious norms.
The Romans were very tolerant of established religions, realising the the gods were the same, just with differing local names. When Pompey captured Jerusalem, he went up to the temple and sacrificed to Jehovah, knowing he was the same as Jupiter and Zeus.
Ancient religions did not impose their beliefs on others as the later monotheistic Judaism and its offshoots Christianity and Islam do. The Romans recognised that the gods were really the same, just with different local nanes - Jupiter = Zeus = Jehovah. When Pompey captured Jerusalem, he straightway went up to the temple and sacrificed to Jehovah.