http://JewishHistory.org
After the destruction of the Temple in the year 70, the attitude of the Jews towards Rome was ambivilent. On one hand they saw the beauty of Romes roads, government, etc. However they also disliked the corruption within Rome, and forsaw that it would eventually collapse because of this.
The Jews concentrated on their studies, on their way of life, and on producing the Mishna. In the year 200 the great Rabbi Judah the Prince was a friend to one of the great Roman Emperors. Due to this, there was a period of great relaxation between the Jews and Romans. During this time, Rabbi Judah editied and published the Mishna.
There had been a tradition amongst the Jews that the Oral law shouldn’t be written down, but nevertheless because Rabbi Judah the Prince realized that the Jewish people are going into Exile and would not be able to maintain a purely Oral tradition, he took it upon himself to write, edit, and publish all the Oral Law until his time.
Although he wrote it down, it still retains its creativity.
This work became the Mishna, which became passed down and forms a backbone of Jewish life even until today.
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