Today in Jewish History by Rabbi Sharaga Simmons of AISH
25 Cheshvan
In 109 BCE, the Hasmoneans (led by John Hyrcanus, a nephew of Judah the Maccabee) conquered Samaria, the capital city of the Samarian sect. This conquest was significant because it ended some 800 years of Samarian influence in Israel. The Samarians were a schismatic movement, comprised largely of non-Jews who practiced some Jewish traditions. The conquest may have further polarized the Jews into two distinct parties: 1) the Pharisees ("separated ones") because they sought to retain the separation of Jewish culture from the Greek influences of Hellenization, and 2) the Sadducees, Jews who embraced Greek culture.
Why throughout history did Jewish people keep breaking and falling away ?
Why were there always "At Risk" Jews ?
What was the solutions used then ?
From today's history there seems to be no solution for them !!!! Does that mean that Jews of today's times who deliberately do not want to keep the Torah we should outright tell them you are not part of Judaism or do we say , "Yes, you are Jews but ..........................." ?
