Two leaders named Agrippa succeeded Herod. Agrippa I had peaceful relations with the Jews and preserved the Torah lifestyle. But Agrippa II, opposite to his father, quickly became an oppressor of the Jews. With Christianity growing as a movement in Judea, the Jews dividing themselves into rival factions, and Rome cracking down on everybody, the stage was set for the tragic destruction of the Temple.

• Philo, philosopher of assimilation
• the Essenes - more pious than the pious
• Jesus of Nazareth - just another messianic movement?
• the rabbinic response: ignore it
• Paul - the greatest PR man in world history