JEWISH SECTS, a term generally applied (after Josephus) to certain divergent schools which grew up in the midst of Judaism, subsequent]yto the Syrian wars. So far, how ever, from forming. as the word would seem to imply, separate communities with places of worship and a religious law of their own, antagonistic to that of their brethren, the disciples of the different "sects" belonged to the same religious community, adhered to the same practical religious law, and consequently could not well look upon each other as, in a manner, heretics. l'he chief points at issue were certain abstract doctrines, in connection with the peculiar manner in which this law, as far as it is contained in the Scriptures, was interpreted and further developed. While the Pharisees (q.v.) claimed for certain time-hallowed observances and doctrines not found in the Bible a divine origin, drawing them back through tradition—orally transmitted from generation to generation—to Moses and the Sinai itself, and while they, by peculiar rules of an exegesis of their own, proved these same doctrines to lie often latent, as it were, in the very letters of the Bible—the Sadducees (q.v.) rejected the divine origin of the '' oral law," as well as certain spiritual dogmas not distinctly set forth in the sacred record. An 'advanced or exalted class of Pharisees were the Essence (q.v.), who formed a kind of brotherhood, far away (with only solitary exceptions) from the corruption 'of cities, chiefly intent upon the exercise of practical virtues, and ruled by a severe code of morals. The tenets of each of these three "sects" will be found treated separately under the headings indicated.
At a later period, shortly before and after Christ, numerous divergent religious :::octri?es, for the most part the result of a confused mixture of Judaism and Hellenism, rather Alexandrianism (see Gnomes), were promulgated, and found adherents both within and without the pale of Judaism. Many and obscure are the names of these "sects" recorded by the early fathers of the church, but very little is known respecting their history and dogmas. Mention is made of Hellenians (Hillelites?), not to be con founded with the large body of the Hellenists (q.v,) and Meristes (antagonistic school of
Shamai?), Galilean (Christianizina. Jews?), .11erodians (adherents of the foreign govern ment?), Gaulanites (Rabbinists of exaggerated tendencies?), Masbotheans (strict Sabha tariaus?), Henzerobaptists (Essenes?), etc.
In the 8th Christian c. (761 according to Munk), the Sadducean doctrine of the invalidity of the "oral law' —a doctrine which had died out after a brief existence— was revived again by Auan ben David, who is supposed to have held a high spiritual office (Rosh Gelutha? Gaon?) at Bagdad at the time of caliph Abu Giat'ar Al-Mansor (754-775 A.D.), and who, rejecting the Talmud and Midrash as the work of man, only allowed such laws and ordinances to be binding upon the community which resulted immediately from a simple and natural Scriptural exegesis. He thus became the founder of the most important sect of the Karaites, who, within an astonishingly brief period, spread over Palestine, Egypt, Greece, Barbary, Spain. Syria, Tartary, Byzan tium, Fez, Morocco, and even to the ranges of the Atlas. They are now, however, found only in small numbers in Poland, Galicia, Odessa, tie Crimea, Constantinople, Jerusalem, and Alexandria. ,ibrogating the "rabbinical" traditions. they erected a new traditional system of their own, to be altered and freely developed by each of their successive spiritual heads. Prayer, fasting, pilgrimages to Hebron, are the points of religious practice to which they pay the greatest attention. Their general conduct is even by their antagonists allowed to be of the highest moral standard. They have pro duced an extensive special Hebrew literature of their own, chiefly consisting of works on theology, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, etc. The greatest number of these, is now found in the imperial library at St. Petersburg. Some of their principal authors are Anan, Shalmon b. Jeruham, Joseph b. Noah, • Jeshua, Jehudah Hadassi. Aron b. Joseph, Aron b. Eliah, Eliah Bcshitzi. Kaleb, Moses Beshizi, Mardochai b. Nissan, etc.