The story of Kamsa and Bar Kamsa

A wealthy man hosted a feast. He sent his servant to deliver an invitation to his friend, a man named Kamsa. However, the servant mistakenly delivers the invitation to Bar Kamsa, an enemy of the wealthy man. Upon seeing his adversary, Bar Kamsa at his party, the host orders him to leave. Bar Kamsa, attempting to save face, attempts to make peace with the host, by offering to pay for the food he eats, then for half of the expenses of the party, and then for the entire party, each time the angry host refuses the offer.

Humiliated, Bar Kamsa vows revenge against the rabbis present who did not defend him allowing him to be publicly embarrassed. He visits the Roman Caesar who controls the region and tells him that the Jews are inciting to revolt against the Roman Empire. The Caesar, unsure of whether to believe Bar Kamsa, sends an animal to be sacrificed as a peace offering in the Temple in Jerusalem along with Bar Kamsa. On the way, Bar Kamsa purposefully wounds the animal slightly in a way that would disqualify it as a Jewish sacrifice but not as a Roman offering.

Upon seeing the disfigured animal, the rabbis of the Sanhedrin present at the Temple have to make a decision as to how to respond to this delicate situation. Some advocate dispensing with the law and offering the animal anyway to avoid war. This plan is vetoed by Rabbi Zecharia ben Avkolos who fears that people will begin to bring blemished animals to the Temple to be sacrificed. They then suggest putting Bar Kamsa to death to prove that he is at fault, but Rabbi Zecharia ben Avkolos again refuses, because this is not the mandated penalty for intentionally bringing a disqualified offering to the Temple.Thus, Rabbi Zechariah ben Avkulas insisted that the blemished animal not be offered.

Rabbi Yochanan says because of the actions of Rabbi Zecharia ben Avkolos, who decided that the animal could not be offered and allowed Bar Kamtza to return to Rome and related what happened to the Caesarwhat happenedBar Kamtza go back and tell Rome what happened caused the Temple to be destroyed and the Jews exiled from the land.

The Caesar, incensed, sent an army to lay siege to Jerusalem, eventually leading to its downfall in the year 70.