mountainman

See Codex Theodosianus.


Why would a law be created to prohibit people joining Judaism if that was not actually happening?

Duvduv

Good question. And who says Jews were stoning converts to require such a law? The practice for dealing with converts away from Judaism is excommunication, not stoning. In fact I have never heard that stoning would have ever been an issue. But Louis feldman's books mention the attraction of Romans to Judaism. Notice that the code you quoted doesn't cite a penalty for conversion to Judaism beyond mere prohibition, compared with the penalty for stoning.

stephan huller

The prohibition on Jewish and Samaritan proselytes date to the reign of Antoninus Pius. Origen references against Samaritan conversions in the third century.

andrewcriddle

This Law may possibly have been intended to prevent Jewish converts to Christianity from reverting to Judaism. (By classing such a return as joining Judaism. )

Andrew Criddle

stephan huller

An example of this type of rejoining Judaism was likely R Meir (nee Mayesha) in the mid second century

Duvduv

In fact Jewish tradition states that Rabbi Meir was a descendant of "Nero," but given chronology and events it is not likely that is referring to the Emperor Nero but to a military officer by that name who converted to Judaism according to Rabbi Meir ben Yaakov Schiff (1597-1633) of Frankfurt.

stephan huller

No forget that legendary nonsense. The key here is that he is always identified as the disciple of the heretic Elisha ben Abuya. It was Meir who brought the heretic's opinions into the Mishnah (which is astounding in its own right!). Moreover the tradition that Aher (= Abuya) was one of the four who made it to Pardes undoubtedly was also preserved by Meir.

All of his disciples, of course, had long since abandoned him, with the exception of Rabbi Meir, who kept up their friendship, despite criticism by the sages, and retained his esteem for Elisha even after his death. Meir seems, in fact, Meir seems, in fact, to have spent most of his time urging Elisha to repent, ignoring his teacher's sometimes testy responses and attempts to bait him, and using every chance remark or expression of self- pity to turn the conversation Soon afterwards Elisha ben Abuya fell ill. Meir, ever faithful, sat at his bedside, still urging his old friend to repent. To Meir's exhortation to repent, Elisha replied, Would I be received even now? Meir answered by quoting Psalm 90, 3, to which he gave the turn, 'Thou lettest man return (repent) even unto crushing — that is until life is crushed out of him — and sayest repent, ye children of men." There is some acknowledgement that Abuya did not repent until the Gemara was established.

An idealized narrative which disguises the fact that Meir was once a (heretical) Christian.

Duvduv

Quite a vivid imagination and quite an unsupported hypothesis.....!!

stephan huller

What is the 'unsupported hypothesis'? That Meir might have been a Christian? Or Abuya? Or that Meir was Abuya's disciple? Or that I am wasting my time engaging in a conversation with a know nothing who is constantly writing things in this forum?

Duvduv

Stephan, for all I care you can promote the idea that Rabbi Meir was a Goa'uld or a Vulcan. You can say anything you want.......I am sure many people on the Forum are concerned about your obsession about me. Speedy Recovery. Refuah Shelema.