Israel Museum – Second Temple Model (Bible Museum)

              Our class's tiyul the other day may have not gone perfectly to plan but just as Alexander Graham Bell once said, "When one door closes, another opens". Our tiyul was initially supposed to be a tour of the Israel museum and the second temple model but due to a visit from a certain German Chancellor, we had to find a quick replacement. We ended up having the opportunity to visit the Bible museum which was full of relevant and interesting relics from the time periods we have been studying. Even though it was not the way we originally anticipated our day going, it was a wonderfully enriching experience that I was grateful to get the chance to go explore. 
              During class on our tiyul we learned about how Roman culture affected the Jew's and their daily life. The Romans were initially invited in, but their goodwill soon turned to animosity and the Romans ruled the Jewish people through puppet kings. Four different sects of Jewish people emerged due to different reactions to Roman rule. The Pharisees believed in the power of oral law and they are the beginnings of present day rabbis. The Sadducees were the high priests that were very rich and actually enjoyed being under Roman rule. The Essenes were the messianic sect that lived in the woods, despised corruption and were obsessed with purity. The Zealots were the fighters that wanted control of Israel and hated the Romans and everyone that liked them. The sects actually ended up being the destructive force behind the Jewish people during this time and even one of the causes of the destruction of the second temple because of the tension within the Jewish people. This ideal is called Sinat Chinam, or senseless hatred. If the Jewish people did not separate from themselves during this time, the fate of the Jewish people could have been drastically different
             If I lived during this time I believe that I would be a member of the Essenes sect. Even though I would prefer for no sects to exist, I would want to be an Essene because they believed in peace and separated themselves from most of the hatred. I most definitely do not believe in many Essene beliefs but I feel like living in that sect would be the easiest most fulfilling life. 


question: If you lived during the Roman period, what sect do you think you would belong to?