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JOSHUA PAUL CANE Web Producer
GAIL ZIMMERMAN Arts & Entertainment Editor
A millennial-plus look
at figures from history
asks the age-old
question, "But were
they good for the Jews?"
11117 ith the approach of the year 2000, we've been
inundated with books, magazine articles and tele-
vision specials examining not only the past centu-
ry but the past millennium. We've been exposed
for months to a roundup of history's "good guys" and "bad guys"
— but not necessarily from a Jewish perspective. Until now.
In author Elliot Rosenberg's But Were They Good for the Jews?
(Birch Lane Press/Carol Publishing; $22.50), the author directs
the question to more than 150 historical figures. From ancient
times all the way up to the present, Rosenberg
presents the reader with many famous person-
alities, re-examining their significance in a his-
torical context and also probing their impact
upon their Jewish contemporaries. Here are some
figures you might remember from history class, and
their impact on the life of the Jewish people.
Alexander the Great (356-
323 B.C.E.) conquered the
areas of ancient Greece, Egypt
and across Asia Minor
straight to India.
Throughout his empire,
he allowed limited self-
rule and "continuity
of ancient laws
administered by
religious lead-
ers." In legend
he makes
obeisance to
the Jewish priest and makes
Temple offerings; he also sides with the
Jews in thwarting their enemies' plot to
destroy the Temple.
Julius Caesar (100 B.C.E.-44 B.C.E.)
was a much kinder ruler than those
plunderers who came before (such as
Antiochus IV, who destroyed the
Temple, installed an altar to Zeus and
unwittingly brought about the holiday
1999
74
of Chanuka). Caesar returned Jaffa;
reconstructed Jerusalem's defensive
walls; set an annual tax rate at a reason-
able 12.5 percent with exemptions dur-
ing the fallow years; ended the military
custom of practiced extortion; and
allowed Jews throughout the Roman
world to organize themselves and thrive.
Following Caesar, Augustus (63 B.C.E.-
14 C.E.) also proved a relatively benevo-
lent ruler of his Jewish subjects. He
exempted the Jewish people from
emperor worship; barred not only pagan
altars but also his troops from parading
in Jerusalem; and respected the Jewish
Sabbath, exempting Jews from appear-
ing in court on Fridays after sundown
and on Saturdays.
Constantine the Great (280-337) and
Julian the Apostate (331-363) demon-
strate two kinds of Roman emperors —
one severely harsh on Jews, the other
quite lenient. While in power,