Rebekah Wilkinson

In the time of 167 B.C.E the Seleucid Empire was ruling over the Jews of Makor. In
Makor there were Judaism and Hellenism being practiced. Before when Makor was under the
rule of the Ptolemaic Empire the Jews were able to be Jewish without any consequences. In the
Seleucid Empire there was Hellenistic culture surrounding them, and influencing their every
action. In The Source by James Michener it was easy to see the differences between Hellenistic
culture and Judaism. Hellenism and Judaism had very different values, beliefs, and traditions
which caused tension and conflict between them.

In The Source by James Michener both Judaism and Hellenistic culture were described in
detail. The book shared their traditions, beliefs and values. The most obvious difference between
them is that Judaism is Monotheistic while Hellenism is polytheistic. In Judaism it was made
clear the importance of circumcision. It was mentioned many times throughout the chapter and in
class of what circumcision represented and its importance. Circumcision could be considered the
center of all of Judaism. Circumcision is the sign of the covenant with God and was one thing
that was not going to be taken away from the Jews of Makor. “But there were others who knew
that the covenant which Abraham had made with YHWH regarding circumcision was binding
through eternity” (Michener 315). This quote regards the importance of circumcision to the
Jewish people and how it lasts forever. Hellenism believed that the body should not be changed,
so Hellenism was not in favor of circumcision. “The Greeks hold that the human body is a
temple which must never be profaned or altered” (Michener 315). By this quote it can be seen
that the Hellenist people thought that Jews were only harming their bodies by performing
circumcision. Idol worship was a large part of Hellenist society, which was not a part of Judaism
at all. The bath houses and the Gymnasium were very common in Polis’s and it was common for
them to contain idols. The Hellenist people would be completely naked while in the bath houses
and while playing sports, like wrestling, in the Gymnasium. Being naked was a sign of
immodesty and was not a part of the Jewish beliefs. “And Jehubabel the permanent Jew, to
whom the grandeur of Greece wan an unopened book and the naked body an insult to YHWH”
(Michener 323). The purpose of this quote was to show how being naked was looked at as a sin
in Judaism, and how Jehubabel had no interest in exploring Hellenism. These different beliefs
created tension between the people when they had to decide on which they wanted to belong to.
When they were both able to live on their own with separate beliefs and values, there were no
conflicts. Except as soon as laws and regulations were put in place constricting their ability to
continue certain values, and were pushed more to one culture, there was more tension.

Throughout the chapter The Gymnasium in The Source there were many conflicts. The
different characters dealt with each situation differently. They each had different ideas and
beliefs, which many caused more conflict. Jehubabel was at the time the leader of the Jews of
Makor. He had very traditional beliefs. His son Benjamin or better known as Menelaus by the
Greeks had assimilated to the Greek Culture. Jehubabel and Menelaus dealt with the tension
differently. Jehubabel tried to be peaceful with them, without changing any of his beliefs and
values. Menelaus took a different route where he was willing to break the covenant with God and
become totally immersed in the Hellenistic culture. One day Menelaus asked, “In Ptolemais isn’t
there a doctor who can cover the sign?” (Michener 335). Menelaus asking this question shows
that he is willing to break the covenant with God, making him no longer Jew. Tarphon was the
Governor of Makor, and he tried to make compromises with the Jews and have peace, but he
never followed through. He would speak of how he wanted to help them, but he ended up
leading to them fleeing. He also was part of the separation of father and son, and leading to his
death. Melissa Tarphon’s wife supported everything Tarphon did. She tried to get Jehubabel to
listen to Tarphon and did not understand his reasoning behind why he would not support
Menelaus. She believed that Menelaus was doing the right thing by becoming fully Greek and
that his father should support his decision, even if it meant leaving behind Judaism.

There was always tension between the Jews and people of the Hellenist society because
of the differences in their beliefs. The tension influenced Jehubabel to almost not continue doing
circumcision. He wanted there to be peace between the two cultures, and so he made a deal with
Tarphon, which he ended up breaking. “And upon interrogation he found that the old man had
looked at each face in that room, handing on a commitment that would never die. Each man
knew what was involved and was prepared for the consequences” (Michener 331). This shows
that they were going to continue circumcising their sons no matter what the consequences were.
Also the tension of circumcision and Hellenist society led Menelaus to become uncircumcised.
He had to make a decision; he could not have both Judaism and Hellenism in his daily life. “I
shall be a citizen of this city, the youth vowed and he asked the gymnasiarch to lead him to the
doctor” (Michener 344). There was tension brought on by people’s actions and the laws brought
onto the Jews of Makor. Once enough events had taken place and enough laws were in place,
enough was enough. The Jews felt it necessary to leave in order to live Jewish lives. Jehubabel
felt that he needed to punish his son for his sin. Jehubabel believed that breaking the covenant
with God was enough to die for. “With four crushing blows he beat his son about the head,
shattering his skull. Then with a loud cry, The pledge! The pledge!” (Michener 349). This shows
just how important circumcision was to Jehubabel. He killed his son for God, knowing what the
consequences would be.

In my own life American Society has had a large impact. No one in my family keeps
kosher. Since I have grown up without being Kosher I feel that it would be difficult to become
kosher now. In American Society there are not many places that someone can find a kosher meal.
I go to public school, where in no way do they acknowledge the laws of Kashrut. Also because
of my busy schedule I seem to be always eating meals on the go. Also since American society is
all about moving at a fast pace, and never stopping I don’t find myself on a daily basis thinking
about Judaism. There is always a homework assignment, test, work or some other problem going
through my head. I never have a chance to just sit and think which limits my time for Judaism. I
try though, as much as I can, to include Judaism in my everyday life. Whether it is having a
conversation with a teacher about a recent holiday or in the last few months it has been about my
trip. Even if I don’t have time to go to synagogue every week, or keep kosher, I find ways to
include Judaism in everything I do. Along with the Jews of Makor I have many things around me
that could influence me not to be Jewish, but it is the effort that keeps them Jewish. Judaism is
not reaching out to everyone; you have to have the want and you have to work to be Jewish.

There are many times throughout a year, that Judaism comes over everything else going
on. I go to synagogue for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur every year, no matter what is going
on that day. Also with many other Jewish holidays throughout the year, I choose Judaism over
everything else. In my life since high school started there are many times that I leave everything
happening in my life to be Jewish. I go to NFTY events as often as I possible. It is a place where
everyone surrounding me is Jewish and I am able to express myself as a Jew without being self
conscience of what others may think of me. The biggest decision I have made that chooses
Judaism over American Society is going on EIE. I chose to leave America and go to Israel, the
home of the Jewish people. When I have children in the future I know I will want them to be as
involved with Judaism as I am now. Whether I will have an effect on the future of all Jewish
people, I know I will have an impact on those close to me. I may influence them to follow their
dream of coming to Israel, or create a dream for them to want to come to Israel. I will be able to
share my experience with those close to me and inspire them, and who knows, maybe they will
go on to inspire others.

The Jewish community of Makor worked to be Jewish. No matter what law was put
against them, they kept being Jewish. The Hellenist society did not have the same values as the
Jewish community. There was tension and conflict no matter how hard people tried for peace. If
the Hellenists had not affected the people’s ability to be Jewish there might have been a chance
for peace. Today there are many cultures able to live in peace. This is because they leave each
other alone to believe as they want. The Romans of the Hellenist society and the Jews had too
many differences in cultures, and when their right to be Jewish was affected, conflict was going
to occur.

Michener, James A. The Source. New York: Random House, 1965. Print.