Against the Greeks

Set in 167 BCE, this book explores the origins of a pivotal conflict between Judean priests and the Seleucid Empire, rooted in religious and cultural disagreements amid the spread of Hellenism. While military battles marked the struggle, the core clashes revolved around differing visions of Jewish identity and faith, ultimately leading to the brief independence of the Jewish state. The narrative highlights how the Hebrew Bible and subsequent Jewish traditions shaped a distinctive worldview that continues to influence Jewish thought today.