Understanding Judaism begins by checking out the historical events that have shaped the Jewish culture. Here’s a brief time-line of major events in Jewish history.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| c. 1800 BCE | Abraham and Sarah begin the Journey to Judaism |
| c. 1250 BCE | Moses leads Hebrews out of Egyptian bondage |
| c. 1000 BCE | King David unites and grows the Kingdom |
| c. 950 BCE | King Solomon builds First Temple in Jerusalem |
| 722 BCE | Assyrians destroy Northern Israelite Kingdom, disperse ten tribes |
| 586 BCE | Babylonians overthrow Southern Kingdom, destroy first Temple, take Judeans to Babylonia |
| 428 BCE | Second Temple dedicated by Ezra and Nehemiah |
| 164 BCE | Hasmonean revolt against Greek rule (celebrated by Chanukkah) |
| 70 | Second Temple destroyed by Romans |
| 135 | Bar Kochba rebellion |
| c. 200 | Mishnah codified |
| c. 500 | Babylonian Talmud codified |
| 1492 | Jews expelled from Spain |
| 1880 | Mass emigrations to America begin |
| 1938 | Kristallnakht begins Holocaust |
| 1948 | State of Israel declared |
| 1972 | First American woman rabbi ordained |