ABSTRACT
This chapter offers further support for the thesis that Babylonian Amoraim distanced themselves from non-rabbinic Jews, in contrast to Palestinian Amoraim, who favored accommodation. Babylonian rabbis were secure enough socially to be able to challenge prominent opponents with little fear of seriously undermining their position in society. To be specific, Babylonian sources portray antagonism between Babylonian Amoraim and aristocratic non-rabbis claiming Hasmonean descent.1 The present chapter attempts to show that these portrayals reflect social reality in rabbinic Babylonia.
