Iraq and the Jewish People: Anti-Semitism and the Moslem Conquest
Part VII
Anti-Semitism was almost non-existent in the region until roughly the year 500. The cause for the anti-Semitism that existed was the Zoroastrians, also known as the Magians. Their religion was at odds with Judaism, but, for a long time, the Sassanian rulers kept the conflict from exploding. Potential conflict with Christians in Assyria was also prevented. Occasional anti-Semitic outbreaks generally centered around specific occurrences—for example, Magians believed that it was forbidden to bury humans in the ground and attempted to outlaw burial; they were also fire-worshipers and banned the lighting of candles for Shabbat.
The end of work on the Babylonian Talmud, roughly around the year 500, came approximately at the same time that occurrences of anti-Semitism began to increase. The Talmud makes mention of a few occurrences. The rise of anti-Semitism was connected with the decline of the Sassanian Empire which eventually ended in the Moslem Conquest.
Arabs had been moving up the Arabian Peninsula into Mesopotamia. The ruler of Palmyra in Syria, known as Papa ben Netzer in the Talmud, destroyed the area in 261, and the Jews suffered.
Over the course of the last century of Sassanian Empire, anti-Semitism—as well as anti-Christianism—rose. An entire Christian village was eradicated, causing the Jews to fear for their lives as well.
In the years 638–40, Mesopotamia was conquered by the Moslems. Following a century of declining Sassanian rule and anti-Semitism, the Jews welcomed the new rulers—somewhat ironically, as earlier Moslem activity on the Arabian Peninsula seemed quite anti-Semitic. The Moslems established themselves, maintaining the Sassanian administrative system and elements of Persian culture. The tension between the Sassanian system and the Persian culture was good for the Jews for a limited period of time. It is interesting to note that between the year 644 and 647, a Jewish messianic uprising took place in Fallujah. The uprising was quashed and the messianists killed by Moslem troops.
2 Responses to Iraq and the Jewish People: Anti-Semitism and the Moslem Conquest
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Acknowledging the religious differences over use of flame and burial rituals, did any Zoroastrian beliefs or practices assimilate into Jewish practice? Is the eternal flame we have in synagogues and some grave sites one such?
I have been reading and learning as much as I can about the multicultural dimensions of Judaism and Jewish history.
Thank you so much for this series on Iraq and the Jewish People, written in such an accessible way.
Recent research has shown a considerable amount of influence of Zoroastrian lore and religion on the Babylonian Talmud. A very important work summing up this research is S. Secunda, The Iranian Talmud: Reading the Bavli in its Sassanian Context. Some scholars have suggested Iranian influence on the dualistic thought of the Dead Sea Scrolls sect. I am doubtful about this, but the material in Secunda’s book and the research of his teacher and why former student Y. Elman seems to show some influence.