The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind

Tacitus and Juvenal are vastly entertaining in their critiques of the world around them. As we survey these writers, we'll uncover answers to the following questions: If Tacitus' descriptions of the Jews are outrageous, why is it important to read him? How does Tacitus' explanation of the Jewish day of rest shed light on the Roman, pagan mentality? What makes Juvenal so memorable as a writer? Reco...

The story of Masada is one that holds great weight in the collective Jewish memory. On today's episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: Why does Josephus emphasize that the Jews at Masada died on the first day of Passover? Why might many religious Jews reading the story reject it as extreme? How did the legacy of Masada influence the establishing of the modern state of Israel?...

Josephus' chronicling the story of the Jewish revolt would reverberate across the next two millennia of Jewish history. On today's episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: How does Josephus justify the Jewish revolt? Why should we take seriously the position of the Sicarii, the most extreme faction during the Jewish revolt, as it pertains to the spirit of the west? According to...

Christianity and Judaism eventually split in a fundamental way. To help us explore that rift, we'll focus on the following questions: If the early Christians were Jewish and early Christianity was similar to Judaism, when and why did Christians develop such animosity towards Jews? How did the Romans relate to the Christians? Why was it so important for the Council of Nicaea to define Christianity...

It is impossible to understand the west without understanding Christianity. On today's episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: Why is the Book of Matthew considered one of the most Jewish books of the Gospels? How does Christianity fundamentally shift the covenant? What makes Christianity reject Jewish ritual law?

Plutarch's writings remain just as relevant today as they were when he wrote them. As we survey this great Roman writer, we'll focus on the following questions: Why are we indebted to Plutarch for the prominence of poetry in our literary canon? According to Plutarch, why should parents invest in the education of their children? How are Plutarch's guidelines on how to learn as relevant today as the...

The height of the Roman Empire will come during the second century of the common era. On today's episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: What caused the Third Jewish Revolt and how did the Romans respond? What made Marcus Aurelius great as a Roman emperor? Why were Jews and Christians persecuted under Rome if the empire was largely tolerant to other religions?

The period following the reign of Augustus was a tumultuous one in Rome. As we explore that time period, Rabbi Rocklin will help us with the following questions: Was Nero actually fiddling while Rome burned? What happened in Judea that caused the destruction of the Jewish temple? Why were the Pharisees willing to live under the yoke of Roman rule?

The legacy of Roman poetry is one that has stayed with us for generations. On today's episode, Rabbi Rocklin will help us answer the following questions: How did Roman poetry differ from Greek poetry, and how did it come to surpass Greek poetry? What makes Horace the most professional of the Roman poets? Why is Roman poetry and drama so important in the development of western civilization?  Recomm...

The relationship between Rome and the Jews is critical to the further development of western civilization. As we learn about their clash, we'll explore the following questions: How did the Jews end up in Rome and how did they deal with Roman paganism? What are the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, and why were the Pseudepigrapha important towards Rome's relationship with the Jews? How can the relation...

Rome's founding narrative continues to take shape as we move forward in The Aeneid . Together, we'll explore the following questions: How does Virgil use the story of the Trojan horse to show that the Romans are more virtuous than the Greeks? Why does Virgil place such an emphasis on the fact that Rome is not new? What role does history play in Virgil's Aeneid , as contrasted with Homer's focus on...

The Roman Empire will find its destiny rooted in Virgil's epic, The Aeneid. As we explore the poem, Rabbi Rocklin will help us address the following questions: How is Virgil's storytelling in The Aeneid different than Homer's storytelling in The Iliad and The Odyssey? What was Virgil's goal in telling the story of The Aeneid? Why is Aeneas seen as a more compelling hero than the Homeric heroes? Re...

Creating the Roman Empire was no easy task, and Octavian Augustus was the man for the job. On today's episode, we'll explore the following questions: How did Augustus manage to successfully change Rome from a republic to an empire? Why was Rome's trade system important towards Augustus consolidating his power? How did Augustus successfully appeal to the common people to gain their support?

In the tumult of the late Roman Republic, Cicero rose to greatness and glory. Today, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: Why is Cicero considered so important among the great Roman orators? How does Cicero frame the liberal arts to make them appeal to the Roman concerned with valor? According to Cicero, why should we do the right thing? Recommended Reading: Cicero. Cicero's Politic...

The great Roman Republic eventually came crashing down in a series of civil wars and revolts. As we learn about its final gasps, we'll address the following questions: How did the Gracchi brothers' land reforms lay the groundwork for change within the Republic? What set off the first civil war? How did Julius Caesar and his two fellow generals gain enough power to bring down the Republic?"

The Rome that lives on in memory owes its legacy to one of its greatest historians: Livy. As we read some of his writings, we'll discuss the following questions: What made Livy unique among historians in his time? Why does the story of the Sabine women hold such a prominent place in Roman memory? How does Livy narrate the Roman sense of honor? Recommended Reading: Livy. Stories of Rome . Translate...

The next great power in western civilization will rise as Rome takes its place on the world's stage. As we learn about Rome's rise to power, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: How are Rome's founding legends indicative of Rome's character as a whole? What led to the Punic Wars and how did Rome win? Why does Greece's culture live on if Rome conquered it?

The Hellenistic era will open the door for Greek and Jewish thought to finally meet and begin to wrestle with each other. On today's episode, we'll explore the following questions: How did Jewish life shift following the conquest of Alexander the Great and the spread of Greek culture? How did the translating of the Torah into Greek pave the way for the development of western civilization? What wer...

No discussion of Ancient Greece is complete without talking about its influence in the worlds of art and architecture. Today, we'll address the following questions: How does Greek sculpture try to depict human nature? Why are Greek columns so compelling that they have been consistent in the world of architecture for thousands of years? Why did Jews accept and adopt Greek architecture?

To Aristotle, moderation is the key to happiness, both for the individual and in the political arena. As we explore Aristotle's Politics, Rabbi Rocklin will answer the following questions: What was Aristotle's goal in studying different forms of government? To Aristotle, what was the mutual need that grounded the relationship between master and slave? How does Aristotle explain the gods of the Gre...

The next great thinker in the world of philosophy was Plato's greatest student, Aristotle. On today's episode, we'll explore the following questions: What are the differences between Plato's and Aristotle's philosophical schools of thought, and why are both important to western philosophy? If Aristotle's scientific discoveries have been overturned by modern science, why is he still important to th...

Socrates had another student who, unlike Plato, has been relegated to the dusty shelves. As we learn about Xenophon, we'll explore the following questions: Who was Xenophon, and why did he fall out of favor such that he is far less known than Plato? How does Xenophon define excellence, and how is his view unique? To Xenophon, what is justice? How similar is that Plato's understanding of justice?

The questions that animate the spirit of the west can be found in Plato's dialogues. As we discuss five of them, Rabbi Rocklin will walk us through the following questions: How is Socrates' refusal to escape an act of justice? According to Socrates, how does the philosophic life prepare someone for death What is the difference between the Greek and Jewish notions of love?

In his closing arguments, Socrates will continue to insist that the unexamined life is not worth living. In exploring that issue, we'll address the following questions: How does Socrates try to convince the jury that it is their loss if he is put to death? Why would Socrates refuse to beg the jury for his life? How does Socrates see himself as a Greek hero?  Recommended Reading: Plato. The Last Da...

The death of Socrates sets off a new phase in the world of philosophy. In today's episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: How is Socrates' death a continuation of the traditional Greek tragedy? Why is winning his case not a priority for Socrates? How does Socrates define wisdom? Recommended Reading: Plato. The Last Days of Socrates: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo . Translat...