4 Comments

The ancient Romans were known for their wild and weird rituals, but one of them, recorded in the Talmud (Avodah Zarah 11b), is of special interest to us. It is said that once every 70 years, Romans would have a healthy man, wearing the legendary garments of Adam, ride on the back of a limping man, who wore the mask of a Jew as he walked through the streets of Rome. At the head of the parade an announcer would repeatedly say: “Our master’s brother is a forger. Whomever sees this parade let him enjoy, because there will not be another for 70 more years. Forgery has not benefited the forger nor deceit benefited the deceiver!”

Expand full comment

https://www.thetorah.com/article/esau-the-ancestor-of-rome

This website (DISCLAIMER: is mostly for publishing kefirah) has an article on the topic; it either comes from arguments with Christians, or Herod (descended from Edom, appointed by Roman Empire).

Expand full comment