Editing Ezra (section)

==In rabbinic literature==
{{further|Ezra in rabbinic literature}}
[[File:Schnorr von Carolsfeld Bibel in Bildern 1860 125.png|thumb|The return from exile is depicted in this woodcut for ''Die Bibel in Bildern'', 1860, by [[Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld]].]]
Traditionally Judaism credits Ezra with establishing the [[Great Assembly]] of scholars and prophets, the forerunner of the [[Sanhedrin]], as the authority on matters of religious law. The Great Assembly is credited with establishing numerous features of contemporary traditional Judaism in something like their present form, including [[Torah reading]], the [[Amidah]], and celebration of the feast of [[Purim]].<ref name="Jewish Encyclopedia">{{Jewish Encyclopedia |no-prescript=1 |title=Ezra the Scribe}}</ref>

In [[Rabbinic literature|Rabbinic traditions]], Ezra is metaphorically referred to as the "flowers that appear on the earth" signifying the springtime in the national [[Jewish history|history of Judaism]].<ref name="Jewish Encyclopedia" /> A disciple of [[Baruch ben Neriah]], he favored study of the Law over the [[Second Temple|reconstruction of the Temple]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sefaria.org/Shir_HaShirim_Rabbah.5.5.1?lang=bi |title=Shir Hashirim Rabbah 5:5, Sefaria Midrash}}</ref> and thus because of his studies, he did not join the first party returning to Jerusalem in the reign of [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]]. According to another opinion, he did not join the first party so as not to compete, even involuntarily, with [[Joshua the High Priest|Joshua ben Jozadak]] for the office of [[High Priest of Israel]].<ref name="Jewish Encyclopedia" />

According to Jewish tradition, Ezra was the writer of the [[Books of Chronicles]],<ref name="Jewish Encyclopedia" /><ref>Babylonian Talmud (''Baba Bathra'' 15a)</ref> and is the same prophet known also as Malachi.<ref>Introduction to the Aramaic [[Targum]] of [[Jonathan ben Uzziel|Yonathan ben Uzziel]] on the prophet [[Malachi]] (Minor Prophets); Yehoshua b. Ḳarḥa (''Megillah'' 15a) .</ref> There is a slight controversy within rabbinic sources as to whether or not Ezra had served as [[High Priest of Israel]].<ref>HaQoton, Reb Chaim [http://rchaimqoton.blogspot.co.il/2013/07/was-ezra-high-priest.html "Was Ezra a High Priest"] also printed in the [[Jewish Bible Quarterly]] (July 2013); see also [http://jbq.jewishbible.org/41-3-july-september-201/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813022538/http://jbq.jewishbible.org/41-3-july-september-201|date=13 August 2013}}</ref>

According to the [[Babylonian Talmud]], Ezra the Scribe is said to have enacted ten standing laws and orders,<ref>Babylonian Talmud (''Baba Kama'' 82a); Jerusalem Talmud (''Megillah'' 29a-b)</ref> which are as follows:
# That the public come together to read from the [[sefer Torah]] on [[Shabbat]]ot during the time of the afternoon oblation ([[Minchah]]), because of those travelling merchants who loiter in the closed shops in the street corners, and who may have missed the biblical lections that were read during the weekdays.<ref>[[Maimonides]], [[Mishne Torah]] (''Hilchot Tefillah'' 12:1)</ref>
# That the [[beth din|courts]] be opened throughout the Jewish townships on Mondays and Thursdays.
# That women would not wait beyond Thursday to launder their clothes, because of the honor due to the Sabbath day.
# That men would accustom themselves to eat [cooked] garlic on the eve of the Sabbath (believed to enhance love between a man and his wife).
# That women would rise up early on Friday mornings to bake bread, so that a piece of bread would be available for the poor.
# That Jewish women in every place be girded with a wide belt (waist band), whether from the front or from behind, out of modesty.
# That Jewish women, during their menses, wash and comb their hair three days prior to their purification in a ritual bath.
# That the traveling merchants make regular rounds into the Jewish villages and townships because of the honor due to the daughters of Israel (''viz''., so that jewelry can be purchased by the daughters of Israel).<ref>[[Babylonian Talmud]] (''[[Baba Bathra]]'' 22a)</ref>
# That Jewish women and/or girls, as a precautionary measure, be accustomed to conversing with one another while one of their party goes out to relieve herself in the outhouse.
# That men who may have suffered a seminal emission (especially after accompanying with their wives) be required to immerse themselves in a [[mikveh]] before being permitted to read from the scroll of the Law.

In the Syrian village of [[Tedef]], a synagogue said to be the place where Ezra stopped over has been venerated by Jews for centuries. Another tradition locates his tomb near Basra, Iraq.