Elias J. Bickerman (1897–1981) - an outstanding specialist in the history of antiquity, a native of Russia (real name - Ilya Iosifovich Bickerman), student of Academician M. I. Rostovtsev. After emigrating, he worked in Germany, France, and during the war he moved to the USA. Some of his works were previously translated into Russian - the major and internationally recognized best textbook “Chronology of the Ancient World” (Moscow, 1976) and the monograph “The State of the Seleucids” (Moscow, 1985). The posthumously published monograph “Jews in the Age of Hellenism” ( "The Jews in the Greek Age" Cambridge (Mass.), L., 1988) is devoted to the history of the Jews and their interaction with the Greek world in the era from Alexander the Great to the Maccabees.

Contents: Before and after Alexander MacedonianAlexander and JerusalemAlexander and SamariaThe Greeks discover the JewsJews discover the GreeksJerusalem and JudeaThe Law of the JewsJewish outskirtsThe DispersionAramaic literature

Third centuryPalestine in the time of the PtolemiesDispersion under the PtolemiesEastern dispersionGreek TorahEnd of the southern kingdomKingdom of the North

Consistency and change sTemplePriests and LevitesEconomic lifeScribes and SagesMidrashNew jurisprudenceNew literatureDiaspora . New valuesOld and new in religionHistory and faithRetrospective