Halakhic Text and Historical Context: the Attitude of the Sages to Greco-Roman Culture from the Second to the Fourth Century

This study traces the attitude to Graeco-Roman culture of the Sages in the Land of Israel in the Mishna and Talmud Eras. The rabbinic sources indicate that after the destruction of the Temple, and even more so after the Bar Kokhba Revolt, the presence of Greek and Roman culture had significant damaging influence upon Jewish society. The rabbis tried to counter it through many sermons, but – surprisingly enough – not by absolute prohibition. The way they treated Greek and Roman culture, one that went side by side with prohibitions, increasingly tended toward lenience and permissiveness once it became clear that prohibition did not provide protection against cultural influence. Study of the Sages’ attitude toward Graeco-Roman culture offers one example of how the campaign they waged against various pagan influences upon Judaism underwent change and transformation. The article demonstrates that halakhic permissiveness does not indicate that the situation was culturally and religiously excellent.