Hadrian's Trick

Here is some food for thought during the nine days towards Tish'a B'Av. The dominion of Edom over Israel was finalized by the Roman emperor Hadrian. It seems to me that Hadrian tricked the Jews into the rebellion that he suppressed with such lasting results. At first, Hadrian created great illusions among the Jews by proposing to them to rebuild Yerushalayim and the Temple. But then, in the days of rabbi Yehoshua, he insisted that the Temple be built at a different location. The Jews refused (Bereshit Rabba 64:10) to accept a Temple under the conditions stipulated by Hadrian. It seems that Hadrian proceeded anyway, and built a temple complex on the top of Har Moriah - which is not Makom HaMikdash. When the Jews indeed did not accept his temple, Hadrian used their refusal as an excuse for provoking them openly, by forbidding circumcision, and by transforming his temple into a temple for Jupiter. Bar Kochba revolted, and Hadrian won.

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