The story of the Jewish Diaspora begins in the year 587 B.C.E., when the kingdom of Judea was conquered by the Babylonians, who destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and exiled a large part of the Jewish population to Babylonia. Ever since, significant numbers of Jews have lived in the Diaspora, many expressing longing to return to the Land of Israel.
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Ancient & Medieval History
Where do Jews come from?
The religious, cultural and intellectual history of Judaism in ancient times.
Messianic figure Simeon Bar Kochba led the Jews in a failed revolt against Roman rule.
The quest to recapture the Holy Land.
From his day until the present, Rashi has been the most beloved of all medieval teachers.
Modern History
Of flying fiddlers & the gefilte fish line.
In modern nation states, Jews began to ask: What does it means to be a citizen, and a Jew?
How the market revolution helped bring Judaism to the American frontier.
The outbreak of violence in 1991 was fueled by anti-Semitism.
How much do you know about Jewish history since 1650?
Jews Around the Globe
Canada's multicultural society has shaped its Jewish community.
A history of the Baghdadi Jews--who actually lived in India, not Baghdad.
Piecing together legends and stories.
A weekend with the head of Morocco's Jewish community.
Taboo no longer?
Themes in Jewish History
The Jewish people have a reputation of being history-centered.
Why does the scholarly study of the Jewish past engender controversy?
The academic study of Judaism, including the modern, critical study of Jewish history.
The story of the Jewish people is often told in conjunction with the history of Jewish texts.
The Shoah in history, theology, memory, and culture.