Timeline

A Walk in Time

Note: all dates are approximate

Go to 586 BCE: Destruction of the Temple

Go to 495: Babylonian Talmud Completed

Go to 1492: Columbus Discovers the New World

Go to 1882: Founding of Temple Emanu-El in Montreal

Go to 1939-1945: Holocaust

1900 BCE - Abraham of Ur (present day Lebanon), the forefather of Judaism, rejects polytheism (worship of multiple gods) and begins the tradition of monotheism (the worship of God). According to the Bible, God promises Abraham that he will make his family one great nation. Under God's direction, he and his family settle in the land of Israel.
1750 BCE- As a result of famine, Abraham's great-grandchildren leave Israel and settle in Egypt. After living in this country for many years, they are enslaved by the pharaoh (Egyptian king).
1450 BCE- God forces the pharaoh to free Abraham's descendants, the Jews, from slavery. Under God's direction, Moses leads the Jews out of Egypt. After many years of wandering in the desert, they reach the land of Israel.
1410-1050 BCE- The Jews settle in the land of Israel. There, they divide into twelve separate tribes, each of which is led by a judge.
1050-933 BCE- Saul, the first king of Israel, unites the twelve tribes. David, who succeeded Saul as king, both extends and strengthens the kingdom of Israel. During his reign, Solomon, David's son, builds the Holy Temple.
928 BCE- The Jews revolt against the despotic rule of Saul's son. Subsequently, the kingdom of Israel splits into two: Israel and Judah.
722 BCE- The Assyrians conquer the kingdom of Israel.
586 BCE- The Babylonians conquer the kingdom of Judah and destroy the Temple. Many Jews are forced to move to Babylonia where they build new places of worship (synagogues).
538 BCE- A new Babylonian king allows the Jews to return to Judah and rebuild the Temple. While many do return, a significant number remain in Babylonia.
332 BCE- Judah is conquered by the Greek Empire. Consequently, some Jews adopt Greek customs and religion.
168-164 BCE- Under the leadership of the Hasmoneans (particularly Judah Maccabee) , the Judeans successfully revolt against the Greek-Syrian king Antiochus. for a short period, Judah is free from external control.
63 BCE- The Roman Empire conquers Judah.
30- The Romans execute Jesus Christ, who was the leader of a small Jewish sect. Jesus's followers abandon Judaism and spread the Christian faith throughout the Roman Empire.
66-73- The Jews organize a revolt against Roman rule which fails miserably. In response, the Romans burn the Second Temple.
132-135- The Romans force the Jews to leave Jerusalem and forbid them from practicing their religion. Jewish worship continues in secret, however.
200s - The Jews continued to practice their religion illegally under Roman rule. Afraid that the laws of the Torah would be forgotten, the Rabbis wrote them down in the Mishnah. Babylonia becomes the major center of Jewish activity.
400s- Numerous Jewish academies are built in Babylonia by a Jewish leader known as the "exilarch." In 495 CE, the Babylonian Talmud is written down.
622- Muhammad initiate the religion of Islam in Arabia.
740-970 - Judaism spreads to Russia where the kingdom of Khazar becomes Jewish.
950-1391- A large Jewish community develops in Spain, where Jews experience a high degree of freedom under Christian and Muslim rulers.
950-1100- Jews settle in England, France, and Germany. During this time, many developments occurred in the area of Jewish study. Maimonides, for example, modernized Bible and Mishnah study.
1096-1320- Many Jews are killed during the Crusades. Some Jews are able to escape to Poland.
1200-1400- Jewish persecution continues in Western Europe. In 1290, Jews are expelled from England because they are too poor to pay taxes.
1348-1349- Many people blame the Jews for the Black Plague, which kills thousands in Europe. Consequently, Jews are expelled from many countries. Jewish immigration to Poland increases.
1300-1492- Oppression grows in Spain. In 1492, the same date which Columbus discovers the New World, Jews are ordered to leave Spain. Some Jews, known as Marranos, remain in Spain and continue to practice their religion in secret.
1500-1600- Spanish and Portuguese Jews immigrate to Italy, the Turkish Empire (particularly Palestine), North Africa, and the New World.
1400-1648- Jews live peacefully in Poland where they work primarily as merchants, artisans, and innkeepers. There, they are governed by the Jewish Council of four Lands.
1648-1658- The Cossacks destroy 700 Jewish communities in Polish Russia. Many Jews are expelled from the region.
1500-1700- The Marranos move to Holland and France, where they are permitted to practice their religion freely. Jews also begin to return to England.
1750s- A new sect of Judaism known as Hasidism emerges in Eastern Europe. Commerce and industry flourish in Western Europe and some Jews become very prosperous.
1787- The Constitution of the United States of America promises religious freedom to all individuals. France follows the American lead and provides equal rights to Jews.
1800-1900- The concept of equal rights continue to spread throughout Western Europe. Consequently, Jews living in that region begin to enjoy more religious freedom. In Eastern Europe, however, there are numerous attacks on Jewish communities (pogroms). Reflecting in part these new found secular freedoms, the Reform movement emerges in Germany.
1867- The Canadian Confederation is established.
1882- The Temple Emanu-El, the first Reform Judaism congregation in Montreal, is established.
1890s- The Conservative Judaism movement emerges in the United States. Dreyfus, a captain in the French army, is falsely accused of treason. anti-Semitism increases throughout France and many Jews begin to actively support the idea of establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine. In 1897, the first Zionist Congress takes place.
1900-1914- The pogroms continue in Russia which results in further immigration to Western Europe, North America, and Palestine.
1914-1918- The first World War rages throughout Europe. Great Britain issues the Balfour Declaration (1917) which states that the British government "views with favor" the building of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Consequently, Jewish immigration to this region increases.
1933- The Nazi party takes power in Germany. The Jews are blamed for the country's misfortunes and are placed in concentration camps.
1939-1945 - The Second World War rages. The Nazis conquer most of Europe, destroying much of the Jewish population in each country. In total 6 million Jews are killed in the Holocaust.
1948 - The State of Israel is established.
1990s- Middle East peace talks.