Pharisees

From Conservapedia

The Pharisees were scrupulous observers of the Biblical law and representatives of the religious views, hopes and practices of the Jewish people in the Second Temple. The Pharisees opposed the priestly Sadducees who were not as great in number, but had political power. The term "Pharisees" derives from "Perisha" (the singular of "Perishaya"), which means "one who separates himself." In a religious sense it meant a group that separates itself from impure persons and things in seeking a higher level of holiness as desired by God.

At times Jesus was very critical of the Pharisees, as observed in the Gospels. After the Jewish struggle with Rome (A.D. 66-135) that ended with the diaspora, Pharisaism became virtually synonymous with Judaism itself.