Two free e-books for download or online reading

1.
The Jews in Late Antiquity

The Hellenistic period begins formally with Alexander’s arrival in the
Near East in 334 B.C.E. However, this date should not be seen as the
beginning of Hellenistic influence in this region. The Near East as a
whole and the Land of Israel and its Jewish residents more
particularly were subject to increasing Aegean influence beginning
already in the fourteenth century B.C.E. Due to increased trade
connections, this influence became much more extensive during the
Persian period when Greek coinage became the standard in the Land of
Israel. The cultural phenomenon we call Hellenism was a power which
would have a lasting impact on Judaism and the Jewish people.

2.
Challenge and Transformation: Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism

The years of Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine rule in Judea and of
Sassanian rule in Babylonia were years of great challenge to the
ongoing continuity of Judaism, and, at the same time, years of great
accomplishment which resulted in the successful meeting of these
challenges. By the time the period of Late Antiquity drew to a close,
Judaism had survived the challenges of Hellenization, sectarianism,
violent revolution, and even anti-Semitism. In addition, the
development of Israelite religion into the rabbinic tradition took
place in these very same years. The many transitions that took place
in this period are what effectively made possible the long-term
continuity of Judaism as an exilic religion, able to enter the
medieval period with a new consensus on how to face the future and
explain the past.


[lawrenceschiffman.com]

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(These are PDFs, about 50 pages long - Hermione)