Jews and Judaism are part of a long history. Jews are very proud of their religious tradition. All Jews are linked to one another through this tradition, which is very diverse and always evolving. They have lived and suffered from the time of Abraham, whom they consider as their father and themselves as a family where there is also “disagreements”! Beginnings of Judaism, Jews believe, is with God promise to Abraham: “I will make you a great nation and I will bless you; I will make you your name great, and you will be a blessing, I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all people on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2f)BCE
c. 2000 - Abraham and his people journey from Ur to Canaan.
c. 1200 - Escape from slavery in Egypt with leadership provided by Moses; giving of the Torah; entry into Israel. Please read "The Ten Commandments" in LR, p. 244.
c. 1000 - King David makes Jerusalem the capital of Israel. Please read "David and Goliath" in LR, p. 247.
c. 900 - King Solomon builds the First Temple in Jerusalem. The Jewish community in Ethiopia may date from this time.
586 - Babylonians destroy the temple and deport Jews.
c. 500 – Re-building of, or building of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
c. 200 - Jews settle in India (?).
168 - Syrian Greeks occupy Israel, take over the temple for idol worship, and try to make Jews abandon their religion. The Maccabees, Jewish freedom fighters, defeat them.
CE
70 - Romans destroy the Second Temple and Jews are dispersed.
200 - Yehudah HaNasi compiles and edits the first part of the Talmud, the Mishnah. The Talmud text is completed in the year 500.
711 - Muslims rule Spain, and Jewish life flourishes freely.
1040 - In France, Rabbi Shlomo ben Yitzhak (Rashi) explains the Torah and 1105 Talmud in clear language. His commentaries are the most important in the Jewish world.
1135-1204 - In Spain, Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (The Rambam or Maimonides) creates many works to explain Jewish laws and beliefs. These codes are still used today.
1215 - The Pope orders Jews in Europe to wear a yellow badge and an ugly hat so that Christians can recognize and avoid them. Over the next centuries, Jews are forced to live in closed areas, which become known as ghettos.
1492 - The Christian King and Queen of Spain expel Jews and Muslims, Jews move to Turkey to live under the Ottoman Empire.
1654 - Jews begin to settle in North America.
1700-1760 - The Baal Shem Tov (Master of the Good Name) becomes the founder of the Hasidic movement in Poland. Hasidic Jews stress the joy of living a Jewish life, expressing this in song, story, and dance. Reverence for the rabbi is very important.
1806 - Napoleon encourages a Jewish assembly to be created in France, showing that Jews are equal to others.
1835 - Abraham Geiger, a German rabbi, recommends many changes in Jewish practice. Reform Judaism dates from this time.
1881 - Pogroms, organized attacks on Jews, take place in Russia and neighboring countries. Many Jews are killed or expelled; many emigrate, mainly to the United States.
1897 - In Switzerland, Theodor Herzl convenes the First Zionist Congress, an international meeting of Jews to discuss ideas for a modern Jewish homeland in Israel.
1917 - The British government issues the Balfour Declaration, promising the Jews a national homeland in Palestine.
1933 - Nazis come to power in Germany; Holocaust begins. Six million Jews were killed.
1948 - The State of Israel is created and declared as a homeland for all Jews. Refugees arrive. Surrounding countries declare war on Israel and capture the Old City of Jerusalem.
1967 - The Six Day War: surrounding countries attack Israel. Israel captures the West Bank from Jordan and the Gaza Strip from Egypt. The Old and New Cities of Jerusalem are reunited.
1982 - Israel signs a peace agreement with Egypt. The Peace Process begins.
1994 - Israel signs peace agreements with the Palestinians and with Jordan. Palestinians begin limited self-rule in part of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Conflicts and peace process between Israel and Palestine continue!
Question to Explore:
Discuss separately the developments within the Jewish community under the different Muslim rules and within the various Christian nations. You may read LR, pp. 236-271 to explore and discover the various high points of the Jewish history.
c. 2000 - Abraham and his people journey from Ur to Canaan.
c. 1200 - Escape from slavery in Egypt with leadership provided by Moses; giving of the Torah; entry into Israel. Please read "The Ten Commandments" in LR, p. 244.
c. 1000 - King David makes Jerusalem the capital of Israel. Please read "David and Goliath" in LR, p. 247.
c. 900 - King Solomon builds the First Temple in Jerusalem. The Jewish community in Ethiopia may date from this time.
586 - Babylonians destroy the temple and deport Jews.
c. 500 – Re-building of, or building of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
c. 200 - Jews settle in India (?).
168 - Syrian Greeks occupy Israel, take over the temple for idol worship, and try to make Jews abandon their religion. The Maccabees, Jewish freedom fighters, defeat them.
CE
70 - Romans destroy the Second Temple and Jews are dispersed.
200 - Yehudah HaNasi compiles and edits the first part of the Talmud, the Mishnah. The Talmud text is completed in the year 500.
711 - Muslims rule Spain, and Jewish life flourishes freely.
1040 - In France, Rabbi Shlomo ben Yitzhak (Rashi) explains the Torah and 1105 Talmud in clear language. His commentaries are the most important in the Jewish world.
1135-1204 - In Spain, Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (The Rambam or Maimonides) creates many works to explain Jewish laws and beliefs. These codes are still used today.
1215 - The Pope orders Jews in Europe to wear a yellow badge and an ugly hat so that Christians can recognize and avoid them. Over the next centuries, Jews are forced to live in closed areas, which become known as ghettos.
1492 - The Christian King and Queen of Spain expel Jews and Muslims, Jews move to Turkey to live under the Ottoman Empire.
1654 - Jews begin to settle in North America.
1700-1760 - The Baal Shem Tov (Master of the Good Name) becomes the founder of the Hasidic movement in Poland. Hasidic Jews stress the joy of living a Jewish life, expressing this in song, story, and dance. Reverence for the rabbi is very important.
1806 - Napoleon encourages a Jewish assembly to be created in France, showing that Jews are equal to others.
1835 - Abraham Geiger, a German rabbi, recommends many changes in Jewish practice. Reform Judaism dates from this time.
1881 - Pogroms, organized attacks on Jews, take place in Russia and neighboring countries. Many Jews are killed or expelled; many emigrate, mainly to the United States.
1897 - In Switzerland, Theodor Herzl convenes the First Zionist Congress, an international meeting of Jews to discuss ideas for a modern Jewish homeland in Israel.
1917 - The British government issues the Balfour Declaration, promising the Jews a national homeland in Palestine.
1933 - Nazis come to power in Germany; Holocaust begins. Six million Jews were killed.
1948 - The State of Israel is created and declared as a homeland for all Jews. Refugees arrive. Surrounding countries declare war on Israel and capture the Old City of Jerusalem.
1967 - The Six Day War: surrounding countries attack Israel. Israel captures the West Bank from Jordan and the Gaza Strip from Egypt. The Old and New Cities of Jerusalem are reunited.
1982 - Israel signs a peace agreement with Egypt. The Peace Process begins.
1994 - Israel signs peace agreements with the Palestinians and with Jordan. Palestinians begin limited self-rule in part of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Conflicts and peace process between Israel and Palestine continue!
Question to Explore:
Discuss separately the developments within the Jewish community under the different Muslim rules and within the various Christian nations. You may read LR, pp. 236-271 to explore and discover the various high points of the Jewish history.
You should be ready to write brief notes on those in bold letters.
