Hadrian’s Massacre at Beitar
The voice is the voice of Jacob (Genesis 27:22, NJPS): [ . . . ] R. Judah bar Illai used to interpret [the verse]: The voice is the voice of Jacob crying out from what the hands, those being the hands of Esau, did to him. R. Yoḥanan [offers this interpretation: It is] the voice of [Jacob crying out from what was done to him by the hands of] Hadrian…
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Persecution under Vespasian, Trajan, and Hadrian
1:45. For these do I weep (Lamentations 1:16). Vespasian loaded three ships with the nobles of Jerusalem in order to place them in the Roman houses of prostitution. They [the noblemen] stood up and…
The Story of Trajan, Lulianus, and Pappas
What is Trajan’s Day? They said: When Trajan tried to kill Lulianus and his [Lulianus’] brother Pappas in Laodicea, [Trajan] said to them, “If you are from the people of Ḥ ananiah, Mishael, and…
The Martyrdom of Hannah and Her Seven Sons
As for Your sake we are killed all the day long; we are reckoned as sheep for the slaughter (Psalm 44:23). And R. Judah said: This [verse applies to the] woman and her seven sons [who died as martyrs…
Rejection of Bar Kokhba as the Messiah
Bar Koziba ruled for two and a half years. He said to the rabbis, “I am the Messiah.” They said to him, “About the Messiah, it is written that he smells and judges.” Let us see if he is able to smell…
Destruction at Beitar
Because of a rooster and a hen, the king’s mountain was destroyed. There was a practice that when a bride and groom went out [to be married, people] would bring a rooster and a hen before them, as if…
Burying the Slain of Beitar
R. Huna said: From the time when the slain from Beitar were allowed to be buried, the [blessing] “The One who is good and does good” was established. “Good”: that [the slain were not allowed to] decay…