The articulation of normative Judaism The success of Rabbinic Judaism in Western

Rabbinic Judaism became normative over the first ten centuries C.E. The fourth-century challenge of the rise of monotheist Christianity was followed by the seventh-century challenge of the advent of monotheist Islam. Just as the vast majority of Jews stood firm when Christianity pointed to its political success as evidence of its truth, so they affirmed their loyalty to Judaism when Islam called. By contrast, in the Middle East and North Africa Christianity lost vast, ancient populations to the appeal of Islam.