History of Israel

Jonathan Power's history of Israel (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 22) makes the Jews disappear much as Christians appeared surprised that they had disappeared in the year 70 and somehow miraculously reemerged in the late 19th century.

Bar Kochba's failed revolt in 135, resulting in expulsion from Jerusalem, led Jews to concentrate in Gaza and the Galilee, where in addition to farming communities, rabbinical schools were developed that kept Judaism alive.

The Mishna was compiled in Palestine between 100 and 200, and the Palestinian Talmud completed circa 400, a century before the Bablylonian Talmud. Another Jewish revolt erupted circa 354, and Palestine's Jewish population centers were divided between Palestina Secunda in the north and Transjordan, and Palestina Prima in the south, including Judea.

Samaritan revolts broke out in 485 and 529, at the start of Justinian's reign. Jews lived throughout the area during 460 years of Arab rule, and in fact a gaonate led by immigrants from Mesopatamia operated a Sanhedrin in Haifa and elsewhere in Palestine from the 10th through 12th century.

Rabbi Ovadiah of Bartinora came to Palestine from Italy in 1485, gave sermons in Hebrew and produced the major commentary to that time on the Mishna. I could go on and on, throughout the Ottoman empire as well, but one should realize a Jewish presence in the land of Israel has always maintained itself, including continual dwelling in Jerusalem.

The Jewish people are not revived ghosts, but an ongoing stream in history in Israel as well as elsewhere.

JACK SHATTUCK
Delaware, USA