Statement

Legally weakened, Jews were exposed to assaults by local Christian communities led by bishops, whose power grew from the fourth century on. The synagogue was a frequent target. Roman law formally shielded it from destruction and seizure, but the very need for the government to step in reveals how much violence there was.

References

1. p. 125

   supports · main text · ch. 5

   Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.

   Section: Jewish Life in a Christianized Roman Context

   Verification anchor recorded · checked against the page text