Judaism's Great Debates: Timeless Controversies from Abraham to Herzl

5. Ben Zakkai and the Zealots: The Debate over Resistance

39 5 Ben Zakkai and the Zealots Brains or Brawn? The Debate over Resistance My children, why do you destroy this city and why do you seek to burn the Temple? Yochanan Ben Zakkai, Avot d’Rabbi Natan 4:5 A House Divided On the eve of the greatest calamity in ancient Jewish history, the destruction of the Second Temple and the fall of Jerusalem, one family produced two leaders with polar opposite approaches to the conflict with Rome. An uncle and his nephew rose to prominence in radically different circles. Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai was the greatest sage of his generation, and a pivotal figure in Jewish history. His nephew, called Abba Sikra, whose real name may have been Ben Batiah, was a rebel leader who remains among the most shadowy and controversial figures of the Second Temple period. In a supreme irony, Abba Sikra will play a key role in not only opposing his uncle, but in eventually saving his uncle’s life and legacy. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai (ca. 30–90 ce), a disciple of the renowned Hillel, is a figure of major importance in the Talmud and Midrash, which record his life in a blend of fact and legend. He is a leading authority on the interpretation of Scripture and Jewish law. As a sage he is part of a movement of Rabbinic leaders, the Pharisees, who are often at odds with the Sadducees, the priests who serve the 40 Temple. These internal disputes among the religious leadership centered primarily on ritual and theological matters. But as Roman occupation and rule, now more a century long, grows increasingly harsh, there is no escaping political involvement and division. Rabbi Yochanan gains a reputation as an advocate for accommodation, arguing for cooperation with Rome in order to carry on daily life as normally as possible. He urges maintaining peace “between nation and nation, between government and government, between family and family” (Mekhilta, Ba-Hodesh, 11). He warns that rebellion against Rome is futile and will only bring more misery and destruction upon the people. Abba Sikra, son of Rabbi Yochanan’s sister, could not disagree more. He and his fellow zealots hold that the yoke of Rome must be thrown off at all costs. They argue that the fight for freedom must continue no matter the degree of suffering. In their zeal they even resort to attacking fellow Jews who disagree with them, accusing them of collaboration with the enemy. The daggers they carried are called sicari; their faction adopts that name; and Yochanan’s nephew Abba Sikra (“father of the assassins”) is their militant head. Rabbinic Judaism 41 The Great Debate Here is the debate between Ben Zakkai and Abba Sikra of the Zealots, based on stories recounted in the Gittin 56a-b, Avot d’Rabbi Natan 4:5, Lamentations Rabbah 1:5 and Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:12. (Note: this is a reconstructed conversation between uncle and nephew, although actual statements from the above texts are incorporated; italics are direct quotes from the sources; regular print is added dialogue). Abba Sikra: As you have heard, I commanded that the storehouses of Jerusalem be burnt. We must fight the Romans at all costs. If it takes starving our countrymen to make them fight, so be it. Ben Zakkai: Woe! Abba Sikra: Why do you make that exclamation? Ben Zakkai: Because so long as the stores were intact the people would not expose themselves to the dangers of battle. Now that you are starving them, they will be become desperate, and they will fight. Abba Sikra: That is exactly what we intend. Ben Zakkai: My children, why do you destroy this city and why do you seek to burn the Temple? For that is exactly what Vespasian will do to us if you rise up against him. Abba Sikra: We bow only to God; not to a Roman, be he a general or an emperor. Ben Zakkai: What is it that Vespasian asks of you? In truth he asks nothing of you save one bow or one arrow, and then he will leave you alone. The tribute tax he requires is a small price to pay. Abba Sikra: Even as we went forth against the two generals before him and slew them, so we shall go forth against him and slay him. 42 Ben Zakkai: You are making a terrible mistake, and the people will suffer. Be...