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Wiki source code of Diaspora

Last modified by Ryan C on 2025/05/20 05:32

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1 = Jewish Diaspora and Migration =
2
3 == Overview ==
4
5 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.
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7 == Ancient Dispersion ==
8
9 * The **Babylonian captivity** began the trend of organized Jewish communities outside the Land of Israel.
10 * 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.
11 * Jewish communities flourished in **Babylonia**, **Egypt**, and **Persian territories**, forming important religious centers.
12
13 == Medieval and Early Modern Periods ==
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15 * Jews were expelled from numerous Christian kingdoms (England in 1290, France in 1306 and 1394, Spain in 1492, Portugal in 1496).
16 * Many resettled in the **Ottoman Empire**, **Poland-Lithuania**, and **North Africa**, forming new communities with distinct traditions (e.g., Sephardim and Mizrahim).
17 * In Islamic lands, Jews were tolerated but often second-class citizens (dhimmi status), subject to periodic violence and limitations.
18
19 == Modern Migrations ==
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21 * In the 18th–19th centuries, Jews fled [[**pogroms and persecution**>>doc:Main Categories.Jews.109 and Counting.WebHome]] in Eastern Europe and Russia, with over 2 million emigrating to the **United States** between 1880 and 1924.
22 * The [[**Holocaust** >>doc:Main Categories.Jews.The Holocaust.WebHome]]drastically reduced Jewish populations across Europe, and survivors migrated to **Palestine**, the **U.S.**, **South America**, and elsewhere.
23 * The creation of [[**Israel in 1948**>>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balfour_Declaration]] sparked large migrations, including:
24 * Expulsion of Jews from Arab countries
25 * Migration from the Soviet Union, Ethiopia, Iran, and beyond
26
27 == Current Patterns ==
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29 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.
30
31 == Commentary ==
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33 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.
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35 == See Also ==
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37 * [[Demographics>>path:/bin/view/Main%20Categories/Jews/Demographics/]]
38 * [[Zionism>>path:/bin/view/Main%20Categories/Jews/Zionism/]]
39 * [[The Holocaust>>path:/bin/view/Main%20Categories/Jews/The%20Holocaust/]]
40 * [[Jewish population by country>>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population_by_country]]