Did the Jewish people ever accept the Apochryphal Books as canonical?
Nope, they were never regarded as canonical among the Jews. Talmud and the New Testament do allude to them, however (see Jude 1:14). Indeed, if these books hadn’t been preserved., Jews might not know much about the Maccabbees, who have become heros in the 20th century after they were somewhat disreputable in earlier times. The apocryphal books from what I’ve read (I don’t read them much) strike me as good literature, some very good story-telling (such as Judith) and wisdom imitating Ecclesiastes. I wouldn’t derive doctrine from them, but I would recommend looking at them.
