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The Emperors and the Jews

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The Emperors and the Jews Ari Lieberman Mosaica Press / 355 pp The Emperors and the Jews  is a truly exciting and fascinating presentation on the relationship between the Roman Emperors and the Jews.  The emperors discussed include Alexander the Great, King Ptolemy, Vespasian, Hadrian Antonius, and more.  Interspersed within each chapter are mini-biographies on the great sages and Jewish leaders that were predominate in that era. For example, in the chapter on Alexander the Great we will have his biography, what life was like in the Roman Empire in his time, and his relationship with the sages. Contrary to popular misconception, not all Roman emperors were anti-semitic and life under Rome wasn't always that bad. What is truly trailblazing is that Lieberman cites all the Talmudic and rabbinic references where the emperor being presented is mentioned along with the traditional commentaries. This makes the work into a beautiful synthesis between Jewish and non-Jew