JoyJuice

I have heard it said before that as standard practice Jewish boys learned how to read and write. I ran across this from a site:

"Young Jewish boys started formal education at the age of 5, learning to read and write. At age 10, boys would start to learn the Jewish law. Formal education was complete by age 18. Young girls would learn at home from their mothers and other women. Young men were educated by a Rabbi (teacher) from the local synagogue."

Does anyone know how true that statement is? Intiatively I would think if a boy was born into a family whose business was fishing, as soon as he was able; he helped with the family trade mending nets, fishing, selling goods, etc? Intiatively I would think those who were taught to read and write came from families who were in positions to pay for it?

Thanks in advance.

DCHindley

Kickapoo,

I've heard this said as well. However, I believe that most of it is inferred from the Talmuds, not from actual monument inscriptions or incidental comments by non-Jewish sources or even Josephus. Wasn't it Rabbi Akiva (late 1st early 2nd century ce) who was a totally unlearned ignoramus goatherder who became a Jewish sage by pestering the hell out of teachers until they relented and let him study under them (for free). Think of poor orphan Kwai-Chang Caine in the TV series Kung Fu, waiting patiently outside the Shaolin Buddhist monastery until Master Po and Master Kan take pity upon him. It seems that Akiva's case was the exception rather than the rule.

Lonesome Polecat

Frankencaster

I doubt if many of my ancestors in the 1st century were literate. Most were likely nomadic goat herders who had never been in a synagogue let alone taught to read or write. Education is a luxury of cultures with resources to allow children not to be productive labourers of some type.

Most social history is lost to us. We get a warped version through scraps of info handed down through the elite. Jewish life in 1st century Palestine focused around clans and agricultural practices...not around temples in Jeruselum or elsewhere.

premjan

The priests would have been the main ones to benefit from education. Could be many of the migrants were priests and upper classes whereas lower classes stayed in Palestine and converted to Christianity or Islam.

Frankencaster

Christianity was a Jewish cult and few Jews in Palestine or elsewhere became Christians. After the initial decades, the cult grew outside of the Jewish race. The focus of Christianity shifted away from Palestine.

premjan

Well, Muslims then possibly.

Frankencaster

Not too much their either but for different reasons. Jews had a special status in early Muslim teachings. For the most part Judaism was tolerated when other groups had to choose between conversion or death. Jews were 'People of the Book'....not a lot different than how a lot of fundie Christians see Jews today. 'different' but part of God's plan. Otherwise Judaism for the most part would have been obliterated.

Jewish persecution was 'big time' on and off in Christian Europe and especially in those areas (such as Spain) where Islam once dominated. Islamic authority protected Jews....Christian rulers only did it if convenient. Most Islamic (but not all) hostility towards Jews is a relatively recent thing when Jews get associated with the Western ideas and imperialism.... it first becomes an Arab vs Jew thing that morphs into a broader Muslim vs Jew.

premjan

Well if you're second-class but tolerated, maybe you would convert. At least if you weren't a priest your commitment might be weaker. At least it is possible. A lot of Hindus certainly did which is where all the Pakistanis and Bangladeshis came from.

Frankencaster

Possibly but those people didn't have a special place in Muslim teaching. Jews are specified in Muslim teaching as a special people of god. They wern't second class but often had special status to fill certain niches in society.

We also need to remember that Jews were never much of a big deal in the scheme of things. Christianity and Islam were and are large historic movements...Judaism is for the most part a non-entity at that level.

We often speak of Christians, Muslims and Jews. That's a bit like speaking of the USA, Russia and Belgium.. There isn't a lot written about Jewish history that isn't 'bit's' gleaned from from other histories.

Perhaps a large percent were converted or few....but there were not many Jews to begin with. Not any numbers that are going to make much impression upon those who recorded events a 1500 years ago.

premjan

Literacy would have certainly have been aided by written holy books.