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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Nicholaus try to convince Elisha to do?

2. Where did Elisha travel while studying, attending academies, and sitting with the masters?

3. What is Abuyah's dying wish for Elisha to fulfill?

4. Where does the plague strike?

5. Roman officers come to the house of Pappas to deliver what document to Elisha?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are Akiba and the two Simeons uncomfortable talking to Elisha about Greek literature?

2. What secret does Elisha tell Beruriah, and why?

3. What is the job of the Sanhedrin?

4. What does Nicholaus, Elisha's tutor, look like?

5. Why did the merchant's business suffer after taking his case to the Roman courts?

6. What do the two famous sages, Eliezer and Joshua, discuss at Elisha's circumcision ceremony?

7. How does Simeon ben Azzai die?

8. After the ex-communication of Elisha was read at Sanhedrin, what did Joshua do?

9. What does the delegation of the local Jews want to know about Elisha?

10. Why is Elisha unjustly brought to court for sentencing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Jewish community is generally mistrustful of the Romans. When Shraga and Elisha are working on the court case for the merchant, what does the merchant decide to do, and why? Why did the merchant's business suffer when he took his case to the Roman court? Describe the relationship between the Jewish community and the individual. What pressures and responsibilities do the Jewish members have to their community?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the contrast between the decision of the people of Bethar and the decision of Elisha when faced with Roman persecution. Why did the people of Bethar choose to commit mass suicide? Who made the wiser choice, the people of Bethar or Elisha? Define wisdom according to the principles of Elisha and the town of Bethar.

Essay Topic 3

The grand thematic struggle is between faith and reason and mostly exemplified by Elisha's character. Can faith and reason work together or are they fundamentally different principles? Discuss how Elisha is affected by the struggle between choosing faith and reason. Provide two examples of the conflict between faith and reason found in the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 844 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample