While the Jewish revolt against Rome culminated with the destruction of our Bet haMiqdash, it also demonstrated the courage and determination of the Jews to fight for an independent Jewish state.
The Great Rebellion, called in Hebrew HAMERED HAGADOL, began in the year 66. The Jews entrenched themselves in the city of Yerushalayim, which was protected by very heavy walls.
However, Jews did not have a unified front. At the same time as they were fighting against the Roman army, Jews also quarreled among themselves: those who wanted to rebel against Rome, led by Menahem HaGuelili, fought against the Jewish army of Agrippa II and many Sadducees, who refused to rebel against Rome.
Menahem attacked the famous fortress of Metsada (Masada) and took many weapons from the Romans. Now Menahem was using these weapons against Agrippa, who had an army of about 2,000 soldiers. This civil battle lasted for a week, with the victory of Menahem. Menahem also killed the Roman soldiers who were stationed in Jerusalem.
At the same time, a new Jewish commando was organized and led by El’azar son of the Great Priest Hananyia. El’azar ordered that no more sacrifices were offered at Bet HaMiqdash in honor of the Roman emperor. This was a clear sign that the Jews no longer accepted the authority of the Romans and were declaring themselves as an independent state.
In
Yerushalayim the situation was very tense. El’azar confronted Menahem, saying that Menahem behaved like a tyrant. “We do not want to change a tyrant [the emperor of Rome] by another tyrant [Menahem],” El’azar said. El’azar and Menahem’s armies engaged in a battle that ended with the execution of Menahem.
Since in Yerushalayim they were losing the war, the Romans decided to exact revenge killing the Yehudim who lived in other cities of Israel: Acco, Ashqelon, Caesarea, etc. Josephus Flavius reports that tens of thousands of Yehudim were massacred by the Romans in this period. Rome sent a large army, 40,000 soldiers, under the command of Casius Galus to put an end to the rebellion of Jerusalem. As he was advancing from the north, Casius destroyed and burned down every Jewish city and town he encountered on his way. This brought more support for the revolt against Rome which expanded beyond of Yerushalayim.
When they arrived at Jerusalem, the Romans besieged the city and the soldiers got ready for the assault. The Yehudim were ready to defend the city with their lives. The Romans attacked the city for six consecutive days. They tried to climb the wall with special towers, but the Jews resisted and repelled the attack. Josephus reports that the Romans made a military formation called “the tortoise”, shielding themselves with their shields over their heads from any attack from above the wall, while they struck the city’s walls with terrible blows trying to break the door to to set it on fire. Casius also tried to attack with archers, to weaken the Jewish warriors stationed in the towers of the wall, but the Jews resisted.
For six consecutive days the army of Casius tried everything, but failed to break the Jewish defenses. And then what nobody expected happened. Casius Galus surprisingly stopped the assault and retreated. Historians are not sure whether this was because Casius underestimated the Jews’ ability to carry on with their rebellion, or because he thought his army was not organized enough. Or perhaps because the Romans did not have the necessary supplies for their army, since the Jewish militias, commanded by another military leader, Shimon ben Giora, were ambushing and destroying the caravans that brought reinforcements and supplies for Casius. This retreat was a true miracle. And as our Sages taught us, if we had remained united, with the help of HaShem, we would never have been defeated.
While the Jews celebrated this miraculous victory, Emperor Nero prepared a new offensive, this time under the leadership of the experienced commander Vespasian.
It is very interesting to see how this victory was reflected in the daily lives of the Jews. Defeating Casius Galus meant that Jews regained their freedom, and as part of the celebration of this victory they minted a Jewish coin, the sheqel, symbol of the new Jewish autonomy. Roman coins were illustrated with an image of Hercules or other pagan gods. Jewish coins were decorated with a goblet (coin on the left side) , representing the Bet haMiqdash and its sacred objets, or a Lulab, or an Etrog, or a pomegranate (right side), one of the special fruits of the land of Israel. The text, written in ancient Hebrew, said for example: ALEF LEHERUT TSION, that is to say, “Year 1 of the Independence of Zion”. In the image above the front of the coin (left side) says: SHEQEL ISRAEL. The other side (right) mentions the place where this coin was minted YERUSHALAYIM QEDOSHA, “Jerusalem, the holy [city].”
(To be continued….)
