The Jews in the Roman Empire

The focus of this book is on the legal status of the Jews within the Roman Empire and the changes that it underwent when the empire became Christian. Conflicts between Roman and Jewish jurisdiction form an important theme, while particular studies deal with questions of conversion, the observance of the Sabbath and Festivals, Hadrian's decree prohibiting circumcision, and with the treatment given to the Samaritans. In the field of family law, Professor Rabello deals with the issues of the patria potestas, family courts, marriage and divorce, and it is in these areas, he holds, that a basic understanding can be found of how the early Catholic Church treated Jews and Judaism.

Alfredo Mordechai Rabello, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel