Nothing much. They withdrew from general society to form their own community in the desert. They were peaceful scholars who minded their own business.
Essenes
The Essenes, an ancient Jewish sect known for their ascetic lifestyle and communal living, largely disappeared after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. Many scholars believe that their practices and beliefs were absorbed into early Christianity, while others suggest that some Essenes may have fled to remote areas, such as the caves near Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. The sect's decline was likely due to the Roman conquest, societal changes, and the rise of other Jewish groups, notably the Pharisees. Ultimately, the Essenes faded from historical records and their distinct identity was lost.
They were a tiny splinter group who broke away from the mainstream Torah traditions and invented some new customs. The Jewish sages disapproved of the Essenes' innovations; and the Essenes eventually died out. They may be the ones referred to when the Talmud speaks of Chitzonim (outsiders).
Under Roman rule, the Jewish population was primarily divided into three groups: the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes. The Pharisees emphasized oral tradition and the interpretation of the Torah, promoting a more flexible approach to Jewish law. The Sadducees, composed mainly of the priestly and wealthy class, held a more literal interpretation of the Torah and rejected the oral traditions. The Essenes, a smaller, ascetic group, withdrew from mainstream society and practiced communal living, often associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls.
the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes
The Essenes were a tiny splinter group who held non-traditional beliefs and practices. Some see them as having been a nascent form of Christianity.
That is commonly thought to have been the Essenes. The Essenes were a small sect who eventually disappeared from the Jewish community. They styled themselves "observant; pious ones." The normative, majority Jewish community viewed them as breakaways from the common stream of Jewish tradition, because of their non-traditional beliefs and practices. Their beliefs included an excessive amount of dabbling with the names of angels, messianic fervor, gnosticism and eschatological speculation; and their practices were more like Christian monasticism than the generally accepted Jewish way of living. The practices of the Essenes included vegetarianism, dwelling in isolated groups, communal ownership, monastic asceticism and avoidance of money, commerce and private property; and (among some of them) celibacy. Also, they had some forms of non-traditional observances (such as round phylacteries [tefillin]). Some researchers identify the Essenes as a form of early Christianity, taking also into account the fact that early Christianity was far from uniform and was, for a time, thought of by some as a kind of modified Judaism.
Jewish sectarianism refers to the divisions and disagreements among different Jewish religious groups. These sects often have varying beliefs, practices, and interpretations of Jewish law. Some well-known examples of Jewish sects include the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes during the Second Temple period, as well as contemporary sects like Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism.
1. The Sadducee's- favored cooperation with Rome. 2. The Pharisees- believed that close observance of religion law would protect the Jewish identity from Roman influences. 3. The Essenes- Lived apart from society, sharing goods in common. Like many other Jews, they waited for God to save Israel from oppression. 4. The Zealots- Called for the violent overthrow of Roman rule. They caused a Jewish revolt, which began in A.D. 66, only to be crushed by the Romans four years later. That is when the Jewish temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. * COPIED FROM GLENCOE WORLD HISTORY BOOK*
Maybe it depends upon whom you ask. In Judaism they have zero importance. The Essenes were a small sect in Judea who eventually disappeared from the Jewish community. They styled themselves "observant; pious ones." The normative, majority Jewish community viewed them as breakaways from the common stream of Jewish tradition, because of their non-traditional beliefs and practices. Their beliefs included an excessive amount of dabbling with the names of angels, messianic fervor, gnosticism and eschatological speculation; and their practices were more like Christian monasticism than the generally accepted Jewish way of living. The practices of the Essenes included vegetarianism, dwelling in isolated groups, communal ownership, monastic asceticism and avoidance of money, commerce and private property; and (among some of them) celibacy. Also, they had some forms of non-traditional observances (such as round phylacteries [tefillin]). Some researchers identify the Essenes as a form of early Christianity, taking also into account the fact that early Christianity was far from uniform and was, for a time, thought of by some as a kind of modified Judaism.
The Essenes in the Jewish history refer to Second Temple Judaism. They lived in various cities but abstained from all pleasures. They also live in large numbers.Jewish answer:The Essenes were a small sect in Judea who eventually went extinct. They styled themselves "observant; pious ones." The normative, majority religious community viewed them as breakaways from the common stream of Jewish tradition, because of their beliefs and practices. Their beliefs included an excessive amount of dabbling with the names of angels, messianic fervor, gnosticism and eschatological speculation; and their practices were more like Christian monasticism than the generally accepted Jewish way of living. The practices of the Essenes included vegetarianism, dwelling in isolated groups, communal ownership, monastic asceticism and avoidance of money, commerce or private property, and (among some of them) celibacy. Also, they had some forms of non-traditional observances (such as round phylacteries [tefillin]). Some researchers identify the Essenes as a form of early Christianity, taking also into account the fact that early Christianity was far from uniform and was, for a time, thought of as a kind of modified Judaism.
Some of the ancient (and best known) Jewish sects were: Pharisees (ancestors of modern Judaism) Sarducees (extinct) Essenes (extinct)