JEWISH DIASPORA IN ALEXANDRIA
/ŽIDOVSKÁ DIASPÓRA V ALEXANDRII/

Alexander CAP

lecturer, Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Presov in Presov, Masarykova 15, 080 01 Presov, Slovakia, riaditel@ppepoer.sk, 00421517724729

Abstract

There were many Jews in the Alexandria area who no longer spoke Hebrew, but only Greek. It was a diaspora which, for religious reasons, required the translation of the Old Testament into ancient Greek. Therefore, a translation of the Septuagint was made in the 3rd century BC.

Keywords

Israel, Alexandria, diaspora, Greek language

SUMMARY

While we cannot absolutely disassociate the Alexandria Diaspora, it is important to see a prosperous and educated Jewish community seeking to establish intellectual contact with Greek culture. Jewish Hellenistic culture was faithful to the Law and the nation. However, the cultural atmosphere was so different that they had their own synagogues built. Although Jews were not very popular in the world, probably Judaism became attractive to many pagans. The simple but aesthetic worship of one God, the noble ethics, the high standard of family life all attracted many people, even high-ranking, to the synagogue. Many sources confirm that Judaism was also attracted by the widespread false belief that Jews possessed special magical powers, and that their sacred words were particularly effective in scolding. It must be said, however, that there was a Jewish syncretic sectarian teaching that dealt with mysticism and occultism, and these were fascinated by the Hellenic world.

(Language: slovak)

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