The institution of Jewish high priesthood ended with his death, and the structure of Jewish governance was demolished. This fact, together with his close relationships with the Roman leadership, allowed Rabbi Yehuda to live and prosper as a leader of the surviving Jewish community. In one generation, at Zippori, Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi transformed Jewish identity. Jewish communities in the Diaspora were culturally diverse, each influenced by its particular surroundings. Jewish communities from Castilla, Aragon, and Granada, for example, each with its separately evolved traditions, were expelled from their lands in 1492.

Source: National Post September 25, 2018 15:56 UTC