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| author | version | line-number | content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | = Jewish Diaspora and Migration = | ||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | == Overview == | ||
| 4 | The **Jewish diaspora** refers to the dispersion of Jews from their ancestral homeland and their settlement across the globe. While some degree of migration existed before, large-scale exile began with the **Babylonian conquest of Judah** (~587 BCE), continuing under Roman, Persian, Islamic, and Christian empires. For over two thousand years, Jews lived as a scattered but interconnected minority across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and later the Americas. | ||
| 5 | |||
| 6 | == Ancient Dispersion == | ||
| 7 | * The **Babylonian captivity** began the trend of organized Jewish communities outside the Land of Israel. | ||
| 8 | * After the **Roman destruction of the Second Temple** in 70 CE and the **Bar Kokhba revolt** (132–136 CE), Jews were expelled or migrated across the Roman Empire. | ||
| 9 | * Jewish communities flourished in **Babylonia**, **Egypt**, and **Persian territories**, forming important religious centers. | ||
| 10 | |||
| 11 | == Medieval and Early Modern Periods == | ||
| 12 | * Jews were expelled from numerous Christian kingdoms (England in 1290, France in 1306 and 1394, Spain in 1492, Portugal in 1496). | ||
| 13 | * Many resettled in the **Ottoman Empire**, **Poland-Lithuania**, and **North Africa**, forming new communities with distinct traditions (e.g., Sephardim and Mizrahim). | ||
| 14 | * In Islamic lands, Jews were tolerated but often second-class citizens (dhimmi status), subject to periodic violence and limitations. | ||
| 15 | |||
| 16 | == Modern Migrations == | ||
| 17 | * In the 18th–19th centuries, Jews fled **pogroms and persecution** in Eastern Europe and Russia, with over 2 million emigrating to the **United States** between 1880 and 1924. | ||
| 18 | * The **Holocaust** drastically reduced Jewish populations across Europe, and survivors migrated to **Palestine**, the **U.S.**, **South America**, and elsewhere. | ||
| 19 | * The creation of **Israel in 1948** sparked large migrations, including: | ||
| 20 | * Expulsion of Jews from Arab countries | ||
| 21 | * Migration from the Soviet Union, Ethiopia, Iran, and beyond | ||
| 22 | |||
| 23 | == Current Patterns == | ||
| 24 | Today, over 85% of Jews live in **Israel or the United States**. Smaller communities exist throughout Europe, Latin America, Canada, South Africa, and Australia. Many historic Jewish populations (e.g., Yemenite, Iraqi, Moroccan) have dwindled or disappeared. | ||
| 25 | |||
| 26 | == Commentary == | ||
| 27 | The Jewish diaspora is not simply a story of exile, but of resilience. Despite centuries of displacement, Jews retained religious, ethnic, and cultural identity—often more tightly than surrounding populations. The **diasporic mindset**, rooted in collective memory of loss and longing for return, shaped the development of Zionism and modern Jewish nationalism. | ||
| 28 | |||
| 29 | == See Also == | ||
| 30 | * [[Demographics>>path:/bin/view/Main%20Categories/Jews/Demographics/]] | ||
| 31 | * [[Zionism>>path:/bin/view/Main%20Categories/Jews/Zionism/]] | ||
| 32 | * [[The Holocaust>>path:/bin/view/Main%20Categories/Jews/The%20Holocaust/]] | ||
| 33 | * [[Jewish population by country>>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population_by_country]] |
