The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (348 page)

 
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Baresnum
(purification)
:

see
PURITY
.

 
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Bar-Ilan
(Orthodox Jewish University)
:

see
BERLIN, N. Z. J.

 
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(d. 135 CE).
Leader of Jewish revolt against Rome. His name (‘Son of a Star’) seems to have been understood as a fulfilment of the verse in Numbers 24. 17. He was accepted as
messiah
by R.
Akiva
, the leading authority of his day, and the revolt seems to have lasted for three years, 132–5 CE. He was eventually killed by the Roman army after a siege at Bethar which traditionally was taken on the 9
Av
.

 
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Barlaam
and
Joasaph, Sts.

Heroes of a medieval Christian romance. In it, an ‘Indian’ king Abenner tries to keep his son Joasaph from becoming a Christian as a seer had prophesied at his birth. The boy is brought up in a palace alone in strict ignorance of any of the ills of life and of Christianity. He is eventually allowed to go for a drive, sees men who are maimed, blind, and old, and becomes troubled. A Christian ascetic Barlaam, disguised, then preaches to him a series of parables and converts him. The story continues with a contest between Christianity and paganism and with Abenner's own conversion. The dependence of the tale on the legendary life of the
Buddha
is obvious.

 
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Barmecides
(Muslim government adviser)
:

see
WAZ
R
.

 
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