What did the Romans allow the Jews to practice their religious beliefs?

Answer 1

The Romans allowed everyone to practice their religious beliefs, the Jews were no exception. As long as a religion did not advocate treason or decadence and the participants paid their taxes, Rome let them alone. But if the religion were considered harmful to the state in any way, then the Romans came down hard on it.

Answer 2

At first the Romans were cordial; and they actually became party to a military treaty with Judea (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.
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 Jerusalem and the Second Temple after the Jewish Zealots attempted to revolt. The Romans sold hundreds of thousands of Jews into slavery (Josephus). From time to time they forbade the observance of the Torah-commands, and they killed several of the leading Sages, despite the fact that the Torah-leaders had advised against revolt (Talmud, Gittin 56a).
Later, Simeon Bar Kochba led a second revolt, in an ill-advised attempt to recreate the independent Judea. The Romans responded by destroying Betar.

Answer 3

The Romans didn't interfere much in Jewish internal matters, because the main thing that they wanted was taxes and a quiet populace.

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 them to settle a dispute. At first the Romans were cordial; and they actually became party to a military treaty with Judea (Talmud, Avodah Zara 8b).
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 Jerusalem and the Second Temple after the Jewish Zealots attempted to revolt. The Romans sold hundreds of thousands of Jews into slavery (Josephus). From time to time they forbade the observance of the Torah-commands, and they killed several of the leading Sages, despite the fact that the Torah-leaders had advised against revolt (Talmud, Gittin 56a).

Later, Simeon Bar Kochba led a second revolt, in an ill-advised attempt to recreate the independent Judea. The Romans responded by destroying Betar, and the emperor Hadrian outlawed the practice of Judaism.

See also:

Jewish history timeline

The Jews and the Romans

Answer 4

1) They didn't always let the Jews practice their religion. There were periods during which the Romans made decrees prohibiting the practice of Judaism; and they killed some of the leading Jewish sages for that purpose.
2) During quiet times, when 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.

Answer 5

The Romans had many religions in their society and the Jewish were just one of the many that were there. Rome was the crossroads of the ancient world and many different people traded, traveled, or were there as slaves. They were very tolerant of the many different people in their society. As long as any group or people followed the laws of Rome it was fine that they were there. It wasn't until the the onset of Christianity that there was any reactions to other religions and the multiple Gods that were worshipped.

Answer 6

They were probably afraid of what would happen if the didn't allow it.

Answer 7

The Jews agreed to live by Roman rule.

Answer 8

Maybe they feared God.