Israel’s

story

Historical Timeline of Jewish Presence in Israel

  • ~1400 BCE: The Israelites arrived in the region later known as Israel, establishing their ancestral claim to the land.

  • ~1200 BCE: The Merneptah Stele, an Egyptian inscription, references “Israel” in Canaan, providing the earliest documented evidence of Jewish presence.

  • ~1000 BCE: King David founded a kingdom in the region, solidifying it as the Jewish heartland.

  • ~957 BCE: The First Temple was built in Jerusalem, serving as a spiritual and cultural cornerstone for the Jewish people.

  • ~587 BCE: The Babylonians destroyed the First Temple and exiled many Jews to Babylon, yet the Jewish connection to the land endured.

  • ~515 BCE: The Second Temple was constructed in Jerusalem, symbolizing Jewish resilience and renewal.

  • ~332 BCE: Alexander the Great’s conquest brought Hellenistic rule to the region, with Jews adapting while maintaining their identity.

  • ~166 BCE: The Hasmonean Dynasty emerged from a successful revolt, sparking the Hanukkah tradition and reasserting Jewish autonomy.

  • ~129 BCE: The Hasmonean Dynasty expanded Jewish control over parts of modern-day Israel, marking a high point of territorial sovereignty.

  • 70 CE: Roman forces destroyed Jerusalem, a devastating blow, though Jewish presence persisted.

  • 136 CE: The Roman Empire renamed the region Syria-Palestina and expelled many Jews, yet a remnant remained, preserving continuity.

  • 614 CE: During the Byzantine-Sassanid War, Persian forces and Jewish allies briefly captured Jerusalem, reflecting persistent Jewish aspirations.

  • 636 CE: Arab conquest brought the region under Islamic rule, but no independent Palestinian state was established.

  • 1099 CE: The First Crusade seized Jerusalem, massacring many Jews and others, a tragic loss for the Jewish community.

  • 1187 CE: Saladin recaptured Jerusalem, permitting Jewish return and offering a reprieve for Jewish residents.

  • 1516–1918: The Ottoman Empire ruled the region for 402 years, a period of foreign control with limited development.