Hasmonean
Kings and Queens
Government
Politics
Wars
Fun Facts
100

Which Hasmonean lead Judea into a "golden age"?

Salome Alexandra (Shlomtzion)

100

Who was commander-in-chief during Hasmonean Judea?

the Monarch (King)

100

What were the two major political parties in Hasmonean Judea?

Pharisees and Sadducees

100

Who did Judea declare independence from?

Seleucid Empire (Greeks)

100

What is falafel made of?

Chickpeas (hummus beans)

200

Alexander Jannaeus returned home during which Jewish holiday, and, according to the story, what did the angry crowd throw at him?

Sukkot, Etrogim

200

What was the name of the council of rabbis, which was the highest court in Judea as well as the legislature?

the Great Sanhedrin

200

Which group started as a political party, then became hermits and wrote the dead sea scrolls?

Essenes

200

Who did John Hyrcanus surrender to, and then offer to become a general for?

Seleucid Empire (Greeks)

200

How many grams of protein are in a slice of costco pizza?

44 grams

300

Who founded the Hasmonean dynasty?

Simon Thassi

300

In the parliamentary system of the Great Sanhedrin, how was the Prime Minister / President (Nasi) selected?

He was the head of the majority party

300

Which political party argued for stricter religious observance and were supported primarily by artists, merchants, and the poor / middle class?

Pharisees

300

During the second Hasmonean civil war, which brother allied with which political party?

Hyrcanus II - Pharisees
Aristobulus II - Sadducees

300

How many letters are in the hebrew alphabet?

22

400

John Hyrcanus forcibly converted which ethnic minority (against Jewish Law), causing controversy?

the Edomites

400

Who / Which branch of government controlled the treasury?

High Priest / Priests (Kohanim)

400

The two political parties disagreed over who should decide Halacha (Jewish Law). Which political institution did each party support?

Pharisees - Great Sanhedrin
Sadducees - High Priest

400

Why was the first Hasmonean civil war (started by Alexander Jannaeus) also a war within his family?

His wife (Salome Alexandra / Shlomzion) was a Pharisee supporter, and her brother was a Pharisee rabbi

400

CLOSEST ANSWER WINS:
What percent of Israeli employees work in the tech sector?

14%

500

Which Hasmonean King had the shortest reign?

Hyrcanus II (3 months)

500

How many rabbis were on the lowest level courts
(Civil Tribunals / Beit Din)

3

500

What was one legal or political reason for the controversy over the King and High Priest being the same person?

1. Priests weren't supposed to see dead bodies, and the King was also commander-in-chief (general)
2. Long military campaigns meant no High Priest to run the temple for years
3. Tradition going back to Moses

500

Which region did Aristobulus I manage to conquer during his short reign, causing a major political shift?

the Galilee
500

What is it called when a Jewish man dies without children, and his wife has to marry his brother?

A levirate marriage

M
e
n
u