The historical cincumstances of the Jews certainly changed. It is guessed that at one time, the Jews constituted one-tenth of the population of the empire. Under Trajan there was a great uprising that forced the emperor to abandon his pacification of Iraq and turn west to put down a rising of the Disapora that taxed his power to the limitbefore it was quashed. The rising of Bar korqba, and its suppression by Hadrian, and the obliteration of the Jewish character of Jerusalem, marked the end of a political phase that began with the Maccabees. There after, the Jews became reconciled to Roman mastery and were recognized offically by the Romans. A status. not allowed the Christians until the 3rd Century. With the disappearnce of the Jewish state, Jews took a different look at their religious tradition, one that was suited to their dispersed situation. Naturally as a Christian I accept the Torah but not the tradition known as Judaism, except in part.
“The historical cincumstances of the Jews certainly changed. “
I would like to think so, but unfortunately it is getting very bad again. Jews are beginning to leave Europe as levels of anti-semitism and violence against Jews are reaching levels as high as during the Holocaust. Attacks on Jews have increased dramatically- even in the USA. The MSM covers it up and does not even mention it. Most of us in the US are armed.
Here are some recent examples:
http://news.yahoo.com/ca-judge-deems-ramming-jewish-woman-shopping-cart-003506015.html
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/146545#.Tw23dEaTr-V
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137239#.TlTDd0aIaB8
http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/04/are_jewish_students_safe_on_ca.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/sweden/7278532/Jews-leave-Swedish-city-after-sharp-rise-in-anti-Semitic-hate-crimes.html
http://commentarama.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-diaspora-jews-leaving-europe.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2683783.stm
http://leslielebl.blogspot.com/2011/01/jews-leaving-europe.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/07/AR2009020701972.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/07/AR2009020701972.html
http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/9243/after_anti_semitic_attacks_on_subway_jews_in_berlin_alarmed
http://www.jta.org/news/article/2009/08/30/1007535/ant-semitic-incidents-rise-sharply-in-buenos-aires
http://www.jafi.org/JewishAgency/English/About/Updates/Personal+Stories/Archive/2010/jan26.htm
http://antisemitism.org.il/article/63357/jewish-hatred-rise-europe
http://south-asiaforum.org/2009/02/18/world-depressions-lead-to-a-rise-in-anti-semitism-all-over-europe-the-evidence-is-around-us/
http://frontpagemag.com/2011/01/10/the-slow-motion-exodus-of-european-jews/
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2011/10/19/spew-anti-semitism-at-occupy-rally-get-fired/
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/one-day-we-shall-kill-all-the-jews-muslim-brotherhood-holds-hateful-rally-at-cairo-mosque/
http://yourjewishnews.com/13920.aspx
In the USA, it is getting pretty bad. We believe that it is happening to bring Jews back to Israel, which would be in keeping with the prophecies - the gathering of the tribes from where ever we have been exiled brought about by anti-semitism. In Judaic scripture, this is one of the signs that tell us that the Moshiach now is among us and the time is very near. Iran is another. There are hundreds of them, and they are all taking place, much like clockwork.
The Jewish nation of Israel never disapeared. There were always plenty of us there, but we were continuously invaded. Most people only know about the more recent history of the Holocaust.
The Romans took a good number of us out as slaves, but 2 of the largest tribes remained - Judah and Benjamin, along with remnants of the other tribes who escaped or remained. The Crusaders alone, killed well over a million of us.
However, Judaism, never changed - not even in exile. What you are referring to are the customs of dress and foods that were influenced by the nations where we lived. But not the belief. That is the glue that held us together as a people for those of us who spent over 2,000 years in exile. Jews have always and will always adhere to the Torah. We will die before we change that, and have. That is what HaShem commanded of us and we obey that command.
What people do not understand is that we are a nation, a people, and one huge extended family that descended from known common ancestors who had remarkable experiences with G-D. 3 million Jews in the desert with moses saw HIM, heard HIM and experienced miracle after miracle.
And even today, HaShem still does miracles for our survival- just look at the War of Independence in ‘48, the 6 day war and the Yom Kippor wars...
Syrian tank commanders refused to go attack when they saw a row of giant angels with flaming swords, and a white hand descend from the clouds saying “stop”. That is how the IDF with only 3 tanks took out the hundreds of Syrian tanks. To this day, West Point teaches our future US officers that there is no logical explanation as to why and how Israel won her wars. A cousin of mine who is a West Point cadet just sat in the class and smiled. He knew why.
Even during Operation Cast Lead, there are stories by scores of soldiers and officers who claim they were saved by the biblical matriarch Rachel, who kept appearing to them warning them what houses were booby-trapped. You can even see their testimonies on You Tube. She even spoke to them...appearing and disappearing into thin air.And, as if by magic, maps of the Arab strongholds showed up on the ground, allowing the IDF to find where they were and take them out.
It is when Israel is influenced or “guided” by others, is when we fail. Our numbers were meant to remain small, and we are to remain separate from others. Soon, the world will understand why.