Guide
Pharisees and Sadducees
By Carol Bakhos
Related Primary Sources
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Divergent Conceptions of Fate
Jewish doctrine in fact takes three forms. The adherents of these sects are called Pharisees, Sadducees, and, thirdly, Essenes. [ . . . ] Of the two schools mentioned first, the Pharisees constitute…
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Pharisees on Fate and the Afterlife
Now, as for the Pharisees, they live simply and forgo luxurious foods, and they follow conduct directed by doctrine and do what their doctrine prescribes as good for them, and they believe they should…
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Pharisees and Sadducees on Resurrection
When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the…
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Pharisees and Sadducees Debate Halakhah
5. The Aramaic sections in Ezra and Daniel defile the hands. An Aramaic section written in Hebrew, or a Hebrew section written in Aramaic, or [Hebrew written in] Hebrew script does not defile the…
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Purification at Sunset
The elders of Israel used to go first by foot to the Mount of Olives, where there was a place of immersion. The priest that was to burn the cow was [deliberately] made unclean on account of the…
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Pharisees and Ritual Purity
The garments of an ‘am ha’arets [a common person] possess midras-impurity for Pharisees.
The garments of Pharisees possess midras-impurity for those who eat terumah [gifts for…