Synod of Jamnia

The Synod of Jamnia, also referred to as the Council of Jamnia, was a gathering of rabbis around 90 or 100 CE in Jabneh (Jamnia) that is believed to have finalized the canon of the Hebrew Bible. This synod played a crucial role in defining the authoritative collection of Jewish scriptures, known as the TaNaKh, which consists of the Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).1

Before this synod, the exact composition of the Jewish canon was not definitively settled, with some books, like the Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes, having their canonical status debated. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE and the subsequent diaspora intensified the need for a fixed biblical canon to maintain Jewish identity and religious practice. The decisions made at Jamnia helped solidify the boundaries of the Hebrew Bible, though some books found in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) were not included in the Jewish canon finalized at this time.12