Tzipori: Jewish Creativity, Jewish Renewal, Jewish Future!

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A brief history of one of the most fascinating archaeological sites in Israel, home of the "Mona Lisa"of the Galilee...

Tzipori, Israel, December 12, 2009:

In a fascinating new insight into Tzipori, Rabbi Lee Diamond, author of "Venues and Values", offers some challenging questions and intriguing answers to the mystery of the beautiful mosaics found at the site. In his captivating view of biblically-linked tourist sites in Israel, Diamond explains (Blog: http://israelcelebrationtours.blogspot.com/):

During the first Jewish revolt against Rome in the years 66-70 CE the Jews and leaders of Tzipori refused to enter the struggle against Rome. While the Zealots were in struggle with Roman authority, Tzipori remained non-militant and sought the ways of peace and compromise. After the destruction of the Second Temple and the end of the independent sovereign Jewish state that existed in Eretz Israel, the Jews of Israel, living under Roman rule, had to chart a new course to continue Jewish life.

In Tzipori, in the heart of the Galilee, Rabbi Judah the Prince (head of the Sanhedrin of his time) gathered together the Oral Law that had been developing until his day, edited and published it naming it the “Mishna”. It is this very Mishna that would allow for Jewish survival in this time and indeed would create the pattern of Jewish development for all times.

Tzipori is not just another site in Israel with rich archeology. Tzipori is a touchstone. It is one of the most significant Jewish communities of its time. . It is here that we witness the creativity, the renewal, the ability to adjust and expand and the understanding that the Jewish people must learn to live and create in all environments even as a minority.

According to the Midrash, Judah the Prince was born in 135 CE. on the day that Rabbi Akiva was martyred by the Romans. Some would say that G-d Himself saw to it that the chain of tradition would be carried on.

Judah was a man of his times. He understood the needs of the Jewish people whose future was in danger. He understood the world and culture of Rome and knew that he had to provide the Jewish people with a framework for Jewish life. He also realized that the Jews had to live with Roman and Hellenistic culture.

Judah was at home in both these cultures and indeed the Mishna that he created attempted to provide a “Guide for the Perplexed” for its time.

Bringing Tzipori to Life in Our Time

Here in this thriving 2nd century town of some Jewish 12,000 residents we find this Roman theater. The performances probably consisted of light farces and animal dancing. Perhaps some gladiators exchanging blows? Perhaps some slaves or criminals being fed to the lions? Perhaps some nudity or some lewdness? The Talmud declares: "Blessed is the man who does not go to the theatres and circuses of the Romans in the Land of Israel.”

Yet in the midst of this community of Jews, under the leadership of “Prince Judah” there would be regular gatherings of as many as 4,500 participants and spectators. The question is rather obvious! Did the Jews avoid the theatre? Did they participate? Did Judah the Prince ever attend? Did he allow the Jewish “Tziporians” to attend?

The Jewish Quarter of Tzipori

It is reported that there were 18 synagogues in Tzipori at the time of Judah the Prince. The streets of the Jewish quarter are lined with mikvaot or ritual baths fully visible to the naked eye. Clearly this was an active and committed Jewish community.

And yet...adjacent to this quarter is the Roman theatre!!! Just a stone’s throw away! Did the teenagers and young adults sneak off to watch a show? Did young Jewish girls date young gladiators? What about the Roman gods that were displayed in every Roman theatre - were they to be avoided? Were the Jewish kids starting to speak Latin? Any kids being named Alexander or similar? Did all the boys get circumcised? What about the dress code? Togas or Tzitzit (fringed garment worn by religiously-observant males)? Or maybe Togas with Tzitzit?

Could you go to one of the 18 synagogues in the morning and then to the theatre in the afternoon? And if you did, would a good, wet, dunk in the mikvah purify the soul? So hard to be a Jew!

The Roman Villa and the Mona Lisa

Here in this wonderful villa we discover an overwhelming mosaic floor dedicated to the cult of Dionysus, the god of wine. Panel after panel of this marvelous mosaic is dedicated to this pagan god and its wine cult each depicting the Roman god of feasting, fertility, drunkenness, ecstasy and revelry. Fifteen panels portray scenes such as Dionysus' victory procession to India, his marriage to Ariadne and his drinking contest with Heracles, the largest of the panels. Aspects of the Dionysian cult are also shown, such as grape treading, shepherds and scenes of rejoicing and gift bearing.

A frame of 22 circular acanthus leaf medallions surrounds the Dionysus panels, most of which contain hunting scenes of wild animals and naked cupids holding bows and arrows. Centered amongst the medallions are two portraits, of which the northern one is severely damaged.

The southern portrait depicts a captivating woman adorned with earrings and a laurel garland. Her gaze is riveting; in fact, she appears to look directly at you from every corner of the room. This woman has been dubbed "The Mona Lisa of the Galilee", not because she resembles Leonardo’s subject, but rather because she stares at all of us. Who is she? No doubt the important figure who resided here was a man of great wealth and power and had a "trophy wife" would have been a probable accoutrement to his lifestyle.

There is a theory that this was the home of Judah the Prince! Is this possible? Could a nice Jewish descendent of Moses have a mosaic like this? Isn’t this idol worship? What about the idea that Jews don’t have human images or images of Roman gods? Is it possible that Yehudah Ha Nasi was assimilated or assimilating?

Let’s get some answers to all these questions raised at Tzipori:

The Famous Tzipori Synagogue and its Mosaic Floor provides a potential key to our question. Were we assimilated in Tzipori into Roman culture? Did we attend the Roman theatre? Could Judah the Prince have lived in a Roman Villa dedicated to a Roman god and with human images.

Can one live in two worlds? Can one integrate two worlds? On the very floor of this synagogue we find the answer. A zodiac calendar along side Biblical designs! A menorah along side pagan symbols! The answer becomes clearer the more we reflect on our own times. Yes most of us live in two worlds and we adjust to meet the world in which we live. Life is not black and white. Life is dynamic and changing. Just as the human develops in mind and body, so too does our culture and our religion develop. Judaism grew from the time of the Temple to the time of Tzipori. Realities changed and so must we.

And this is the key lesson of Tzipori for the serious student and tourist!

Judaism grew and adjusted to the new realities of the times. The Mishnah reflects this change and Tzipori is a lesson in Jewish Creativity–Jewish Renewal—Jewish Future.