I have been intrigued by the influence of Hellenism on the Jewish culture 3rd to 1st C BCE starting increased diversity in Judaism -
Hellenic Jews removed their marks of circumcision and repudiated the holy covenant First book of Maccabees; the only version being in the Septuagint. Some even sought foreskin reconstruction.
edited Subject titleThe major literary product of the contact of Judaism and Hellenistic culture is the Septuagint, as well as the so-called apocrypha and pseudepigraphic apocalyptic literature (such as the Assumption of Moses, the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, the Book of Baruch, the Greek Apocalypse of Baruch, etc.) dating to the period. Important sources are Philo of Alexandria and Flavius Josephus. Some scholars[6] consider Paul of Tarsus to be a Hellenist as well, even though he himself claimed to be a Pharisee (Acts 23:6).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenist ... #Influence