cover image Mystery of Bar Kokhba

Mystery of Bar Kokhba

Leibel Reznick, Leibel Raznick. Jason Aronson, $25 (186pp) ISBN 978-1-56821-502-0

Little is known about Shimon Bar Kokhba, who led a revolt against the Roman rule of Judea in about A.D. 114, proclaimed himself Messiah and was believed to be so by no less than the respected Rabbi Akiba. While this mysterious figure promises an intriguing story, rabbi and author Reznick does not deliver. From the very beginning, he provides no basic framework for our curiosity. Why was Bar Kokhba important? Why retell his story? What meaning does the story hold for modern readers? In short, choppy chapters, Reznick relates the history of Bar Kokhba and his times according to Jewish, historical and archeological sources; asks many questions; and posits numerous theories. But with a paucity of historical records, he also leaves much to speculation, and his objectivity, though admirable, leads to a passionless study. While he examines the Jewish doctrine of the Messiah, he fails to go beyond delineating a thicket of rabbinic sources in order to provide a deeper understanding. (May)