The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Ezra

(also Esdras). Dates of birth and death unknown. A descendant of the Zadokites, high priests of the Temple in Jerusalem. Reformer of Judaism.

In the mid-fifth century B.C., Ezra arrived in Jerusalem at the head of a group of Jews returning from the Babylonian exile. He made changes in the ritual and appears to have carried out the first codification of the Pentateuch. In other reforms, Ezra prohibited marriages between Jews and those who had not converted to Judaism, and all Jews were obliged to learn the basic tenets of Judaism. It has been suggested that Ezra introduced a square Aramaic script, which gradually supplanted the Canaanite (Paleo-European) script.

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References in periodicals archive

To be honest, I've still got a massive soft spot for George Ezra and like his hits.

Smartphone audience distracted from the charm of George Ezra; REVIEW:George Ezra Motorpoint Arena, CardiffHHHII

Ezra knew his audience and played with them superbly.

Star goes Ezra mile for his opening gig; SINGER'S 'INTIMATE' NIGHT FOR NORTH FANS

Mohd Ezra's appeal is against the High Court's judgment that the seizure of several books by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) in 2012 and a Shariah prosecution against him was valid and legal.

Lawyer: Publisher's hearing deferred because lead counsel busy with Rosmah case

Furne Amato Ezra Santos showed tailored dresses and gowns with exquisite embroidery.

Cinco, Libiran, Furne, Ezra Cary show what World-Class Couture is all about

"Ezra was a loving and caring son and brother and we will miss him dearly."

'We are not saying goodbye forever, but goodbye for now' tributes to young driver killed in car crash

Fried has published extensively on the history of the Persian period, and her reconstruction of the historical Ezra (chapter 2) recaps her previous work.

Ezra and the Law in History and Tradition

Ezra, 25, plays The Flash, while Ben, 45, of course, portrays Batman.

When Ben Affleck and Ezra Miller get together, jokes and serious banter ensue

"Having just won a Telly Award for the branded content video we created for Tea Drops," said Ezra Productions CEO, Jillian Ezra, "we were excited to take initiative in modernizing and re-branding the company into a lifestyle driven company.

Woman-Owned, Los Angeles and New York-Based Creative Agency, Ezra Productions, Takes Home Four Awards in the 23rd Annual Communicator Awards

Since the Second Temple was completed during the reign of Darius I (Ezra 6:15), this means that while historically Achashverosh/Xerxes ruled once the Temple was built, in the rabbinic chronology he ruled before the Temple was built.

REWORKING THE MIDRASH IN LIGHT OF HISTORY: ACHASHVEROSH AND THE TEMPLE

President Barack Obama on Monday made a phone call to the parents of Ezra Schwartz, the 18-year-old American citizen murdered by a terrorist last Thursday in a shooting attack in Judea's Gush Etzion.

Four Days After U.S. Teen Murdered by Terrorists. Obama Calls Ezra Schwartz's Parents