Second Jewish Commonwealth

The Second Jewish Commonwealth refers to the period of Jewish history from the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem around 516 BCE until its destruction by the Romans in 70 CE. This era saw the rise of the Hasmonean dynasty, which began with Simon Maccabeus in 143/142 BCE. The Hasmoneans ruled as high priests and ethnarchs of Judaea, independent of the Seleucid dynasty.12

During this time, the Temple in Jerusalem was the central religious institution, though synagogues also emerged as important centers for Torah reading and prayer, especially during the Babylonian Exile. The Great Sanhedrin served as the chief legislative, judicial, and educational body for Palestinian Jews. This period was marked by internal divisions and external pressures, ultimately leading to Roman involvement and the end of the Second Jewish Commonwealth with the Temple's destruction.12