1. Masada and Yavneh
By Evan Jaffe

2. The Geography of Masada
Located on the eastern border of Israel
It is on the Western shores of the Dead Sea
It is an isolated plateau with steep sides
Very sunny, hot and dry climate

3. Beginning of Masada
Built by King Herod between 37 and 31 B.C.E as a place of refuge
In 66 C.E. Jewish rebels conquered Masada
 8. Underground cistern 9. Southern bastion 10. western palace 11. Throne room 12. West gate 13. Synagogue 14. Large bathhouse
1. Small bathhouse 2. Herod's palace-villa 3. Storerooms 4. Apartment building 5. Snake-path gate 6. Casemate-wall 7. Zealots' living quarters  
1. Small bathhouse 2. Herod's palace-villa 3. Storerooms 4. Apartment building 5. Snake-path gate 6. Casemate-wall 7. Zealots' living quarters  8. Underground cistern 9. Southern bastion 10. western palace 11. Throne room 12. West gate 13. Synagogue 14. Large bathhouse

4. The Romans Attack Romans surrounded it in 73 C.E.
Roman Camp
Masada
Ramp
Romans surrounded it in 73 C.E.
Jews built an inner and outer wall for protection
Romans built a ramp up to reach Masada
Romans set fire to the outer wall
The Romans built this ramp up to Masada with rocks and dirt to reach the walls

5. The Jews Respond
Jewish leader Eleazer ben Yair, told the Jews living at Masada not to try to escape
It was important that they all act together
The Jews committed suicide
Husbands killed their wives, children, and friends
The Jews left food behind on Masada showing they would rather die than survive to be tortured by the Romans

6. The Story of Yavneh .
The story of Yavneh starts in Jerusalem around 68 C.E.
The Jews ruled themselves at the beginning of the Second Temple Period
The Romans wished to defeat the Jews because of several recent Jewish victories against them
Many Jews gathered in Jerusalem as a place of refuge because it was a walled city

7. Romans Encircled Jerusalem
Romans surrounded Jerusalem
Romans controlled the Jews
Jews were prohibited to practice Judaism the way they wanted
Romans surrounded Jerusalem

8. Zealots In the Jewish nation, there were Zealots
These were people who preferred to fight rather than surrender to the Romans
At one point, the Zealots even burned most of the food in order to encourage people to start fighting
Many Jews died because of the Zealots’ actions

9. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai was not the most learned of Rabbis, although he was very clever
He thought of an idea to escape Jerusalem
He faked his death and two Rabbis put him in a coffin and started heading out of Jerusalem
They came to the Roman General, Vespasian
Rabbi Yochanan made a deal with Vespasian that if Vespasian became Emperor in the next year, then Rabbi Yochanan would be given the land of Yavneh for the Jews
In the next year, Vespasian became Emperor, and gave Yavneh to Rabbi Yochanan and the Jews

10. Romans Destroy Jerusalem
After Rabbi Yochanan left, the Romans broke into Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple and the whole city
When Rabbi Yochanan heard that Jerusalem and the Temple had been destroyed, he tore his clothes in mourning
There was nothing the Jews could do to fight back

11. Why I found Yavneh Inspiring
Rabbi Yochanan risked his life in order to save the Jewish nation and the Torah
If he hadn’t done that, the Jewish nation may not exist today
Rabbi Yochanan saved part of the Jewish nation opposed to them all dying in the battle with the Romans

12. Why I found Masada Inspiring
The Jews stuck together as a nation and acted as one
They died together instead of letting the Romans accomplish their goal of torturing and killing the Jews
However, if all of the Jewish nation (Bnei Yisrael) did this, there would not be a “Bnei Yisrael” today

13. Why Masada and Yavneh were not Inspiring
In Yavneh Rabbi Yochanan was willing to leave some Jews behind to die
Although the Jewish plan at Masada may have been inspiring, it is not necessarily the best solution for every situation

14. Why I Found Masada More Inspiring
In the story of Masada, the Jews worked together as a community and died together
In my opinion, the outcome of Yavneh was better, however it was not more inspiring
I can’t say that I would have liked to participate at Masada, however the actions of those that were there inspired me more

15. What Inspires You? Yavneh or Masada ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?