The Story of Kamsa and Bar Kamsa

The Story of Kamsa and Bar Kamsa By Larry Kass The Legend from the Talmud explaining the reasons for the destruction of the Temple In the Talmud, there is a story which relates to us how the sages understood the causes of the destruction of the Temple and our expulsion into the Diaspora. It is called the story of Kamsa and Bar Kamsa. Because of Kamsa and Bar Kamsa, two different people, Jerusalem was destroyed. There was a man who was very good friends with Kamsa and did not get along with another person with a similar name, Bar Kamsa. One time this man made a large banquet and told his servant to invite his friend Kamsa. The servant made a mistake and invited Bar Kamsa. When the man came to his banquet, he was surprised to see Bar Kamsa sitting there. Not wanting to see his enemy benefiting from his meal, he ordered him to leave. Bar Kamsa, not wanting to be embarrassed, offered to pay for his portion of food. The man refused to accept compensation, and ordered Bar Kamsa to leave. Bar Kamsa, still not wanting to be embarrassed, offered to pay for half of the expenses of the large banquet. Still the man refused and ordered Bar Kamsa to leave. Finally, Bar Kamsa offered to pay for the entire banquet. In anger, the man grabbed Bar Kamsa with his own hands and physically ejected Bar Kamsa from the banquet. Bar Kamsa said that since there were many Rabbis at the meal and none of them objected to the outrageous behavior on the part of the host, it must be that the Rabbis agreed with this embarrassing episode. Bar Kamsa decided to fix them all. He went to speak with the Caesar (the king of Rome) and told him that the Jews are planning a rebellion against the Romans. The Roman Caesar did not believe it. Bar Kamsa told him to send a sacrifice to the Temple in Jerusalem and see if the Jews will bring it on to the Altar. The Caesar agreed and sent an animal. On the way to Jerusalem, Bar Kamsa inflicted a minor wound into the lip (or eye) of the animal, so small that by almost all standards it would not be considered a blemish. When the animal arrived in the Temple in Jerusalem, the Rabbis examined the animal and saw the tiny blemish. They didn't know what to do. Although according to Jewish law it was forbidden to offer such an animal on the Altar, they reasoned that not to offer it for such a minor reason could endanger themselves and cause a breach with the Caesar. Therefore they wanted to have the animal brought up upon the Altar. Rabbi Zacharia ben Avkolus however disagreed fearing that people will learn from this that animals with blemishes may be brought upon the Altar. The Rabbis then thought to have Bar Kamsa killed in order that word not be brought back to the Caesar. Rabbi Zacharia ben Avkolus again disagreed, fearing that people may think that one who brings an animal with a blemish can be put to death. Rabbi Yochanan at this point taught that due to the extreme piety of Rabbi Zacharia ben Avkolus, the Temple was destroyed, the Sanctuary burnt in flames and we were exiled from our land. This is one of the stories in the Talmud, the rest is history. What we need to do is to analyze this story to understand what the sages were trying to convey in the story. First, we can note that the combined incidences of the host of the banquet and Bar Kamsa showed a tremendous lack of feelings for the welfare of another. From this we learn the importance of putting other peoples feelings ahead of our desires. Still, this does not compare to the lack of action on the part of the assembled Rabbis at the banquet, who, had they protested the lack of consideration, could have averted a national tragedy. We learn from this the awesome responsibilities of those people who are in positions of leadership and influence. Yet even more so, is the blame on the shoulders of Rabbi Zacharia ben Avkolus, because of his great piety, not only was the Temple and Jerusalem destroyed, but we were exiled through out the nations. Rabbi Zacharia ben Avkolus who was the leader and most influential man in his generation should have seen the results of his actions. National leaders must know when to stand firm and when and how to bend, to avoid disastrous results. He must be able to put his own personal agenda and feelings aside and make proper decisions. May we all learn from this chilling episode in our Jewish History, that our behavior is of extreme importance. May we, through the good will and cheerful help that we are able to give to another fellow Jew, see the rebuilding of the Temple swiftly in our days. The Fall of Beitar and the beginning of the Jewish exile Beitar By Larry Fine When Israelis hear the word "Beitar" they think of one of two things: soccer and a city near Bethlehem. To secular Israelis, Beitar is the name of a popular soccer team; to religious Israelis, Beitar is the name of a modern city populated with religious Jews. Across the road from modern Beitar sits the Arab town of Batir, which according to some opinions is the real site of the ancient Beitar. Ancient Beitar was a city that was destroyed fifty-two years after the destruction of Jerusalem. It was a fortress-city located southwest of Jerusalem and was captured and destroyed by the Roman General Severus after a difficult two and a half year siege. After the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. the cruel and tyrannical emperor Hadrian began a tough policy of persecution of the Jews. He built a city, Aelia, on the site of Jerusalem, forbade circumcision, and other major fundamental concepts required by the Torah. In addition, he embarked on a Hellenization process hoping to bring the Jews in line with the Roman Empire and its values. Shimon bar Koziba was a great military mind and leader and was able to raise the faith in the downtrodden Jewish masses that they could regain once more control over the land of Israel. Rabbi Akiba called him bar Kochba, meaning 'the star'. He was imbued with belief in a divine mission to redeem his people from the Roman overlords. He used guerilla tactics to fight the Romans and met with much success. Although the Jewish followers of bar Kochba were not as well trained as the Romans, they possessed a strong motivation to retake control of their land and of their lives. Amazingly bar Kochba and his men were able to triumph over the cruel governor of the Judean province, Tinius Rufus and recapture the fallen Jerusalem. Pagan temples and buildings were quickly razed and an altar to the Jewish G-d was quickly built to give thanks to G-d for his divine help. At this time all of the Jews rallied around bar Kochba. The Roman emperor realized that something had to be done to stop the open revolt from spreading. He called on his best general, Gaius Julius Severus from Britain, who together with a trained army of 35,000 men came to Israel to crush the rebellion. Bar Kochba was too shrewd to meet Severus and his seasoned troops head on in open battle. The Romans desired this type of battle since they had a superior army in all respects. Instead bar Kochba hid and planned surprise attacks, with small engagements and tried to exhaust the Roman army. This war was so important to the Romans that Emperor Hadrian came from Rome to supervise his troops. After many months of difficult and bitter fighting, Jerusalem was retaken. The Romans renamed the city Aelia Capitolina and refortified it. In the meantime, bar Kochba and his men fortified themselves in Beitar, a strong fortress built on the top of a rock mountain. The Jews had built subterranean passages which connected the city with the outside world. The Jews were able to bring sufficient food into the city from these tunnels to hold out against the siege of the Romans. Each time they tried to take the city, they were beaten off by bar Kochba and his followers. Severus tried to draw bar Kochba into the open but could not. Legend tells us that at this time when Severus was contemplating withdrawal a Samaritan presented him with a plan. He knew that inside Beitar was the holy Rabbi Elazar HaModai who had been fasting since the siege of Beitar began and praying for divine help for all of the Jews. It was considered that in the merit of this holy Rabbi that bar Kochba and his men enjoyed their success. This Samaritan came to Rabbi Elazar, stood behind him and pretended to whisper something in his ear. When word spread that Rabbi Elazar had conversed with a Samaritan whose reputation as a hater of Israel was well known, Shimon bar Kochba became furious and demanded of Rabbi Elazar to know what was said. Rabbi Elazar HaModai denied a conversation since he was unaware of the Samaritan standing behind him while he was deeply involved in his prayers. Bar Kochba became so angry with him that he hit the elderly sage. Rabbi Elazar HaModai who was in a weakened state after so many days of fasting died. From this point onwards, everything went wrong with the city of Beitar. The Romans stormed the city and successfully breached the walls. They overwhelmed the city and killed tens of thousands of Jews who hid in the fortified city. Tradition tells us that it was on the Ninth of Av, Tisha B'av, when the city fell and all inside were killed. Thus ended the Jewish revolt against the Romans and began the great exile of nearly two thousand years from which we are just beginning to emerge.