Rabbinization in Egypt? Mapping rabbinic impact in late antique papyri from Egypt

Journal article

This study examines the extent of rabbinic influence on Jewish communities in late antique Egypt by analyzing papyrological evidence. While previous scholarship, particularly that of Victor Tcherikover, posited significant rabbinic influence on Egyptian Jewry, Tal Ilan and others have challenged this view. This article reassesses the debate by exploring Jewish papyri in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. The findings suggest that traces of rabbinization in Egypt are minimal and largely inconclusive, often reflecting broader Jewish cultural trends rather than a systematic adoption of rabbinic law and practice. The study concludes that rabbinic influence on Egyptian Jews in Late Antiquity was marginal, supporting a more cautious approach to claims of widespread rabbinization.

Authors: Piotrkowski, MM

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Journal: Studies in Late Antiquity
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 53-89
• Publication date: 2026-02-01
• Acceptance date: 2025-02-20
• DOI: 10.1525/sla.2026.10.1.53
• EISSN: 2470-2048
• ISSN: 2470-6469
• Language: English
• Keywords: Egypt; Egyptian-Jewish diaspora; papyri; rabbinization; rabbinic literature; social history