Jewish History

Starter Questions Where did the Jewish people come from? Do you know any famous Jewish people? What do you know about Jewish people in Tianjin? How many Jewish people are there in the world today?

Where did the Jewish people come from?

Do you know any famous Jewish people?

What do you know about Jewish people in Tianjin?

How many Jewish people are there in the world today?

Overview This lecture will look at the history of Jewish people, including the following topics Who are the Jews? Ancient Jewish history and the Diaspora, spread of Jews in the world Modern Jewish history The State of Israel

This lecture will look at the history of Jewish people, including the following topics

Who are the Jews?

Ancient Jewish history and the Diaspora, spread of Jews in the world

Modern Jewish history

The State of Israel

Not just a race, not just a religion The identity of Jewish people is complicated A Jewish person might be Jewish by blood Originally, a person’s mother had to be Jewish Jewish by religion Jewish by culture How does this make Jews different from religious groups like Christians and racial groups like the Chinese?

The identity of Jewish people is complicated

A Jewish person might be

Jewish by blood

Originally, a person’s mother had to be Jewish

Jewish by religion

Jewish by culture

How does this make Jews different from religious groups like Christians and racial groups like the Chinese?

Population There are around 14 million Jews in the world Israel has about 5.3 million Jews America has about 5.3 million Jews Europe has about 1.2 million Jews Three main ethnic groups Ashkenazi, European Jews Roughly 80% of the Jewish population today Sephardi, Jews of Spain and North Africa Mizrahi, Jews of the Middle East

There are around 14 million Jews in the world

Israel has about 5.3 million Jews

America has about 5.3 million Jews

Europe has about 1.2 million Jews

Three main ethnic groups

Ashkenazi, European Jews

Roughly 80% of the Jewish population today

Sephardi, Jews of Spain and North Africa

Mizrahi, Jews of the Middle East

Judaism Judaism is the religion of the Jews It’s one of the oldest religions in the world (4,000 years old) It has influenced other faiths Christianity Islam Holy books The Bible The Talmud, religious laws Religious Jews can be Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox Many Jews, however, are secular (not religious)

Judaism is the religion of the Jews

It’s one of the oldest religions in the world (4,000 years old)

It has influenced other faiths

Christianity

Islam

Holy books

The Bible

The Talmud, religious laws

Religious Jews can be Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox

Many Jews, however, are secular (not religious)

Jewish culture Jewish culture involves many religious festivals and honoring Jewish history Jews have a strong tradition of law and debate This may be why many Jews become lawyers Historical Jewish professions Until the 1700s, Jews were often forbidden to own land To make money, they took jobs most Christians didn’t like or were forbidden to do, such as banking, medicine, science, and selling jewelry

Jewish culture involves many religious festivals and honoring Jewish history

Jews have a strong tradition of law and debate

This may be why many Jews become lawyers

Historical Jewish professions

Until the 1700s, Jews were often forbidden to own land

To make money, they took jobs most Christians didn’t like or were forbidden to do, such as banking, medicine, science, and selling jewelry

Jewish festivals Jewish festivals follow the lunar Jewish calendar, which changes yearly, like the Chinese calendar Some important festivals include Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement Passover Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights (a winter holiday)

Jewish festivals follow the lunar Jewish calendar, which changes yearly, like the Chinese calendar

Some important festivals include

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement

Passover

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights (a winter holiday)

The Holy Land Jews were the slaves of the Egyptians about 3,000 years ago The Jews, led by Moses, escaped Egypt and settled in a land called “Canaan” This is called The Exodus Canaan was often invaded by other peoples from the Middle East, such as the Babylonians In the year 165 BCE, foreign rulers were overthrown and Canaan became known as the Kingdom of Judea

Jews were the slaves of the Egyptians about 3,000 years ago

The Jews, led by Moses, escaped Egypt and settled in a land called “Canaan”

This is called The Exodus

Canaan was often invaded by other peoples from the Middle East, such as the Babylonians

In the year 165 BCE, foreign rulers were overthrown and Canaan became known as the Kingdom of Judea

Roman Rule and the Diaspora The Romans made Judea part of their empire around 70 BCE They called the land Palestine The Jews revolted against Roman rule around 66 BCE The Romans raided Jerusalem and killed more than one million Jews in response The Jews eventually surrendered and became part of the Roman Empire They spread throughout the Roman Empire for the next several hundred years The Romans and the Byzantines (who followed the Romans) treated the Jews poorly When the Muslims conquered the old Roman lands in the year 638, they treated the Jews better For the next 1,000 years Jews remained in Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine, though Arabs and Europeans also controlled parts of the city

The Romans made Judea part of their empire around 70 BCE

They called the land Palestine

The Jews revolted against Roman rule around 66 BCE

The Romans raided Jerusalem and killed more than one million Jews in response

The Jews eventually surrendered and became part of the Roman Empire

They spread throughout the Roman Empire for the next several hundred years

The Romans and the Byzantines (who followed the Romans) treated the Jews poorly

When the Muslims conquered the old Roman lands in the year 638, they treated the Jews better

For the next 1,000 years Jews remained in Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine, though Arabs and Europeans also controlled parts of the city

Early Anti-Semitism Anti-Semitism is discrimination against Jews It can mean Religious discrimination Cultural discrimination Racial discrimination Examples Several conquerors of the Holy Land banned Jewish religion and culture Early Christians made harsh laws to punish Jews Jews were often blamed as a whole for the death of Jesus The Spanish Inquisition (1481) was an organized persecution of Jews, Muslims, and liberal Christians in Spain Jews often suffered expulsion, being driven out of a country in large numbers England in 1290 Spain in 1492 Portugal in 1496 Most anti-Semitism came from European Christians; Muslims were rarely anti-Semitic until modern times

Anti-Semitism is discrimination against Jews

It can mean

Religious discrimination

Cultural discrimination

Racial discrimination

Examples

Several conquerors of the Holy Land banned Jewish religion and culture

Early Christians made harsh laws to punish Jews

Jews were often blamed as a whole for the death of Jesus

The Spanish Inquisition (1481) was an organized persecution of Jews, Muslims, and liberal Christians in Spain

Jews often suffered expulsion, being driven out of a country in large numbers

England in 1290

Spain in 1492

Portugal in 1496

Most anti-Semitism came from European Christians; Muslims were rarely anti-Semitic until modern times

Jews in Europe Because of expulsions, there were few Jews in Western Europe around the 17 th century Instead, many Jews lived in Poland, in Central Europe Eventually, Poland was divided between the Russians and Germans and the Jews moved West and East Many Jews returned to England after anti-Semitic laws were repealed Jews slowly built new communities in Western Europe, living in “ghettoes,” small communities inside the larger community The ghettoes were often required by law In the early 1800s, Napoleon encouraged Jews to leave their ghettoes and created new laws to protect them By the late 1800s, Jews were treated fully and equally in most countries

Because of expulsions, there were few Jews in Western Europe around the 17 th century

Instead, many Jews lived in Poland, in Central Europe

Eventually, Poland was divided between the Russians and Germans and the Jews moved West and East

Many Jews returned to England after anti-Semitic laws were repealed

Jews slowly built new communities in Western Europe, living in “ghettoes,” small communities inside the larger community

The ghettoes were often required by law

In the early 1800s, Napoleon encouraged Jews to leave their ghettoes and created new laws to protect them

By the late 1800s, Jews were treated fully and equally in most countries

Pogroms in Russia Many Jews left Poland for Russia in the 17 th century By the 19 th century, the Russians had started to discriminate against Jews Often, this discrimination took the form of “pogroms” – violence and killings From 1821 to 1917, hundreds of thousands of Russian Jews were killed In the end, roughly two million Jews left Russia for the West, and hundreds of thousands went to Palestine

Many Jews left Poland for Russia in the 17 th century

By the 19 th century, the Russians had started to discriminate against Jews

Often, this discrimination took the form of “pogroms” – violence and killings

From 1821 to 1917, hundreds of thousands of Russian Jews were killed

In the end, roughly two million Jews left Russia for the West, and hundreds of thousands went to Palestine

The Holocaust, Nazi Anti-Semitism Russia was bad, but the worst modern anti-Semitism appeared in Nazi Germany Planned by Hitler for decades, the Holocaust first took a series of steps to “dehumanize” Jews At first, Jews were stripped of their basic rights and required to wear yellow badges Jews were forced into ghettoes again Jews were often forced to become slaves or laborers As the Nazis conquered Europe, they attacked the Jewish population Jews were sent by train to special prisons called “concentration camps” At the camps, Jews were experimented upon by Nazi scientists Nazis used the camps to begin what Hitler called “The Final Solution to the Jewish Problem,” the murder of all Jews Some six million Jews died

Russia was bad, but the worst modern anti-Semitism appeared in Nazi Germany

Planned by Hitler for decades, the Holocaust first took a series of steps to “dehumanize” Jews

At first, Jews were stripped of their basic rights and required to wear yellow badges

Jews were forced into ghettoes again

Jews were often forced to become slaves or laborers

As the Nazis conquered Europe, they attacked the Jewish population

Jews were sent by train to special prisons called “concentration camps”

At the camps, Jews were experimented upon by Nazi scientists

Nazis used the camps to begin what Hitler called “The Final Solution to the Jewish Problem,” the murder of all Jews

Some six million Jews died

Images from the Holocaust Jewish identification star Mass killing

Jewish identification star

Mass killing

Famous Jews of the 19 th & 20 th centuries

Zionism After years of discrimination in Europe, many Jews began to feel the only safe place for Jews would be their own country Theodor Herzl (shown in the picture) led a movement called Zionism in the late 1800s and called for the creation of a country for Jews Starting in the early 20 th century, the Zionists began to move back to Palestine, buying land from the Arabs

After years of discrimination in Europe, many Jews began to feel the only safe place for Jews would be their own country

Theodor Herzl (shown in the picture) led a movement called Zionism in the late 1800s and called for the creation of a country for Jews

Starting in the early 20 th century, the Zionists began to move back to Palestine, buying land from the Arabs

Zionism in Palestine The British gained control of Palestine after 1917 The British issued the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which called from the creation of a “Jewish homeland” in Palestine Western and Russian Jews began to settle in Palestine in large numbers in the 1920s and 1930s To keep Arabs happy, the British impose a limit on Jewish immigration In 1936, the British propose dividing Palestine between the Jews and the Arabs The Arabs rejected it From 1936-39, the Arabs fight a small war with the British to protest Jewish settlement The British restrict Jewish immigration again In November 1947, the United Nations approves the division of Palestine into Arab and Jewish areas The Arabs rejected this too

The British gained control of Palestine after 1917

The British issued the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which called from the creation of a “Jewish homeland” in Palestine

Western and Russian Jews began to settle in Palestine in large numbers in the 1920s and 1930s

To keep Arabs happy, the British impose a limit on Jewish immigration

In 1936, the British propose dividing Palestine between the Jews and the Arabs

The Arabs rejected it

From 1936-39, the Arabs fight a small war with the British to protest Jewish settlement

The British restrict Jewish immigration again

In November 1947, the United Nations approves the division of Palestine into Arab and Jewish areas

The Arabs rejected this too

The Birth of Israel On May 14, 1948, the Zionists declared the State of Israel in the territory given to them by the UN On May 15, 1948, Israel’s five Arab neighbors invade The 1948 Arab-Israeli War lasted for one year Israel defeated the Arabs and then controlled about 80% of Palestine About 6,000 Israelis died 10,000-15,000 Arabs died Aftermath About 750,000 Arabs fled from Palestine to Arab countries like Jordan and Syria Similarly, hundreds of thousands of Jews fled from Middle Eastern countries to Israel Israel created a government based on socialist principles but failed to find peace with its neighbors

On May 14, 1948, the Zionists declared the State of Israel in the territory given to them by the UN

On May 15, 1948, Israel’s five Arab neighbors invade

The 1948 Arab-Israeli War lasted for one year

Israel defeated the Arabs and then controlled about 80% of Palestine

About 6,000 Israelis died

10,000-15,000 Arabs died

Aftermath

About 750,000 Arabs fled from Palestine to Arab countries like Jordan and Syria

Similarly, hundreds of thousands of Jews fled from Middle Eastern countries to Israel

Israel created a government based on socialist principles but failed to find peace with its neighbors

Arab-Israeli Wars 1956 Suez Canal Crisis Egypt blocked shipping coming into Israel With French and British help, Israel went to war with Egypt and captured territory The US and UN forced Israel to end the war 1967 Six Day War Egypt and the other Arabs prepared for war with Israel Israel struck first, defeating Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq in a matter of days Israel now controlled all of Palestine plus parts of Egypt and Syria 1969 War of Attrition Short war between Israel and an Egyptian-Soviet alliance 1973 Yom Kippur War Arabs launched a sneak attack during Yom Kippur The Israelis fought back and the war was a draw Wars in Lebanon Israel twice invaded Lebanon to fight terrorism, but both of the wars ended badly

1956 Suez Canal Crisis

Egypt blocked shipping coming into Israel

With French and British help, Israel went to war with Egypt and captured territory

The US and UN forced Israel to end the war

1967 Six Day War

Egypt and the other Arabs prepared for war with Israel

Israel struck first, defeating Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq in a matter of days

Israel now controlled all of Palestine plus parts of Egypt and Syria

1969 War of Attrition

Short war between Israel and an Egyptian-Soviet alliance

1973 Yom Kippur War

Arabs launched a sneak attack during Yom Kippur

The Israelis fought back and the war was a draw

Wars in Lebanon

Israel twice invaded Lebanon to fight terrorism, but both of the wars ended badly

The Peace Process Israel and the Arabs Israel and the Palestinians In 1979, Israel made peace with Egypt The US “paid” for this peace by giving money and weapons to both countries In 1994, Israel made peace with Jordan Israel is an ally of Turkey Israel has yet to make peace with Syria and the other Arab countries During the past fifteen years, Israel and the Palestinians have tried to negotiate peace several times All of the negotiations have failed because they can’t agree on how to divide the map Also, Palestinians have fought amongst themselves and Palestinian leaders have been afraid to make peace – they might be killed by others!

Israel and the Arabs

Israel and the Palestinians

In 1979, Israel made peace with Egypt

The US “paid” for this peace by giving money and weapons to both countries

In 1994, Israel made peace with Jordan

Israel is an ally of Turkey

Israel has yet to make peace with Syria and the other Arab countries

During the past fifteen years, Israel and the Palestinians have tried to negotiate peace several times

All of the negotiations have failed because they can’t agree on how to divide the map

Also, Palestinians have fought amongst themselves and Palestinian leaders have been afraid to make peace – they might be killed by others!