Jesus in the Talmud

44 Chapter 4These [accusers] err with regard to these matters, therefore: dimissus:you are acquitted!” 19 Interpreted this way, the Roman governor acquitsR. Eliezer of participating in a forbidden meal (symposium), either aChristian agape or some kind of orgiastic cult (Bacchanalia) or both becausethe Christian meal could easily be misunderstood as a mysteriousand conspiratorial cult with orgiastic rites. 20 The heresy (minut) of whichhe was accused by some anonymous informers could therefore have beenmembership in a forbidden cult/Christianity, a serious accusation demandingthe intervention of the Roman authorities.If this was indeed the case, nothing in the supposedly heretical teachingthat R. Eliezer hears from Jacob in the name of Jesus (ben Pandera)and enjoys so much supports such an accusation. Let us have a closerlook at the version in Qohelet Rabba, which is more detailed and morecoherent. There, Jacob—in the name of Jesus—argues as follows: 21[Jacob:] “It is written in your Torah: You shall not bring the hire of aharlot or the pay of a dog 22 into the house of the Lord, your God [inpayment] for any vow [for both of these are abhorrent to the Lord,your God] (Deut. 23:19). What is to be done with them (the money)?”I [R. Eliezer] told him: “They are prohibited [for every use].”He [Jacob] said to me: “They are prohibited as an offering, but itis permissible to dispose of them.”I answered: “In that case, what is to be done with them?”He said to me: “Let bath-houses and privies be made with them.”I answered: “You have well spoken because [this particular] Halakha23 escaped my memory for the moment.”When he saw that I acknowledged his words, he said to me: “Thussaid So-and-so (ploni): From filth they came and to filth shall they goout (= on filth they should be expended), as it is said: For from thehire of a harlot was it gathered, and to the hire of a harlot shall it return(Mic. 1:7)—Let them be spent on privies for the public!”This [interpretation] pleased me, and on that account I was arrestedfor heresy (minut).This is a well argued and perfectly acceptable Halakha: The Bible prohibitsthat money gained from prostitution 24 may be used to buy an offering