The origins of Christianity and its early development cannot be adequately understood apart from the contemporary world of Judaism. Jacob Neusner answers the need for a book which introduces the Jewish world into which Jesus was born and in which, to begin with, his life and teachings found their meaning. Beginning with an explanation of the historical background to the first century and the significance of Jerusalem for the Jews, he then describes the different types of first-century Judaisme, focusing particularly on the Pharisees. A final chapter deals with the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, a decisive event both in Judaism and Christianity, and tells how it was understood and interpreted in the context of Judaism.