Flavius Josephus, a 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian, knew that feeling all too well. In his work, Against Apion, he defends Judaism against its detractors, and in this section, he tackles the accusations of a fellow named Apollonius Molo.
Apollonius, it seems, was one of those “foolish and proud men,” as Josephus puts it. He criticized the Jewish people for not welcoming those with different beliefs or lifestyles. But Josephus isn’t having it. He points out that this isn't a uniquely Jewish practice. Other cultures, even the esteemed Greeks, had similar reservations about outsiders.
Josephus reminds us that even the great philosophers of Greece understood the importance of having proper notions of God. Plato, for instance, was wary of poets like Homer and their potentially misleading stories about the divine. He even banished Homer, metaphorically speaking, from his ideal state, fearing that his fables would corrupt people's understanding of God. Plato, in essence, followed a principle similar to that of the Jewish lawgiver: citizens should learn the laws accurately.
And what about the Spartans? They were notorious for expelling foreigners and even restricting their own citizens from traveling abroad! They feared that outside influences would erode their laws and way of life. Josephus acknowledges that the Spartans might have been a bit extreme.
“The Lacedemonians continued in their way of expelling foreigners, and would not indeed give leave to their own people to travel abroad, as suspecting that those two things would introduce a dissolution of their own laws” (Against Apion 36).
Josephus argues that while the Jewish people may not imitate all foreign institutions, they are, in fact, quite welcoming to those who genuinely desire to partake in their traditions. He sees this as a sign of both humanity and magnanimity – kindness and generosity of spirit.
So, what's the takeaway here? Perhaps it's that every culture has the right to protect its own values and traditions. But maybe, just maybe, we can also strive to be a little more open, a little more welcoming, without compromising our core beliefs. After all, isn’t that what Josephus was advocating for all along? It's a delicate balance, isn’t it? Protecting our heritage while extending a hand to others. It's a conversation worth having.