Simon bar Kokhba was a Jewish military leader in Judea. He is known for leading a revolt against the Roman empire, initiated in 132 CE. The rebellion ultimately was quashed; Bar Kokhba was killed by Roman forces, and his followers were either killed or enslaved.
Notable Sources
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The Messiah Who Wasn't
TALMUD
Rabbi Akiva, a contemporary of Bar Kokhba, believed that Bar Kokhba was the Messiah, though many other sages disagreed. The Jerusalem Talmud recounts the rabbinic sages' perspective on the Bar Kokhba Revolt, highlighting the events and figures that shaped this rebellion against Roman rule.
The Tragedy of Bar Kokhba's Revolt
REFERENCE
The Bar Kokhba Revolt was a pivotal moment in Jewish history, marked by immense suffering and martyrdom. The eighteenth-century chronicle Seder HaDorot offers a detailed historical context and timeline of the revolt, including the involvement of various Roman emperors and the destruction of Beitar.
Coins of Rebellion and Redemption
TOSEFTA
The Bar Kokhba rebellion's coins are subject to particular restrictions in the context of Jewish tithing law. The Tosefta, a late 2nd-century compilation of Jewish oral law, discusses the specific regulations and restrictions on using coins minted during the Bar Kokhba revolt to redeem the second tithe.
Rabbinic Leadership During the Bar Kokhba Revolt
COMMENTARY
The Bar Kokhba revolt saw significant rabbinic leadership and scholarly activity. Isaac Abarbanel’s 15th-century commentary, Nachalat Avot, offers a detailed enumeration of the rabbinic figures and their roles during the Bar Kokhba revolt.
Reviving Circumcision Under Bar Kokhba
COMMENTARY
Under Bar Kokhba's leadership, Jews resumed the practice of circumcision, which had been banned by the Romans. Rashi, the renowned 11th-century commentator, explains how the Jewish people circumcised themselves again during this period.
Bar Kokhba's Fall and Tu b'Av
CHASIDUT
The Jews received permission to bury their dead after the fall of Beitar, constituting relief after a significant historical tragedy. Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin connects the historical events of the Bar Kokhba revolt with the minor holiday of Tu b'Av, emphasizing its significance in Jewish history.
Arthur Szyk, Bar Kochba, Paris, France 1927. Taube Family Arthur Szyk Collection, The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life
Arthur Szyk, Bar Kochba, Paris, France 1927. Taube Family Arthur Szyk Collection, The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life
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