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Jewish Diaspora

The Jewish Diaspora refers to the historical dispersion of Jews beyond the land of Israel, beginning with significant events in ancient times. It started around 722 BCE with the destruction of Samaria, leading to the deportation of Jews to Assyria. Another pivotal moment was the Babylonian Exile, following the conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BCE, which resulted in many Jews being taken to Mesopotamia. Although some returned under Persian rule around 530 BCE, substantial Jewish communities persisted in these regions. Additionally, Jews established a presence in Egypt, particularly on the island of Elephantine, where they even constructed a temple.

The Jewish population in Alexandria grew significantly, making up a sizable portion of the city by around 300 BCE. Over time, particularly after revolts against Roman rule, more Jews were displaced from Judea. While living in the diaspora, Jewish communities maintained their distinct customs and practices, such as dietary laws and Sabbath observance, although they often encountered pressures to assimilate into surrounding cultures. Notably, Alexandrian Jews adopted the Greek language, necessitating the translation of their scriptures into Greek by 200 BCE. The Jewish Diaspora thus reflects a complex interplay of cultural preservation and adaptation throughout history.

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RELATED CIVILIZATIONS: Greece, Rome, Persia, Egypt.

DATE: 722 B.C.E.-700 C.E.

LOCALE: Mediterranean Basin and Mesopotamia

Jewish Diaspora

The Greek term “diaspora” means scattering. The Jewish diaspora began when Israel’s capital, Samaria, was sacked in 722 B.C.E., and prisoners were deported to Assyria. The Babylonians carried other Jews to Mesopotamia (this even is known as the Babylonian Exile) after they conquered Jerusalem in 587 or 586 B.C.E. Some returned when the Persian king Cyrus the Great allowed them circa 530 B.C.E., but large Jewish communities remained in Mesopotamia for centuries. Other Jews fled to Egypt when Jerusalem fell. They established themselves around the island of Elephantine in the Nile and even built a temple there. When Alexandria was established circa 300 B.C.E., many Jews settled there, eventually becoming approximately one-third of the city’s population. More Jews were driven out of Judaea after the failed revolts against Rome in 66-73 C.E. and 132-135 C.E.

Diaspora Jews usually were allowed to live somewhat separately from the general population, observing their own dietary restrictions, paying a tax to support the Jerusalem temple, and handling their own legal affairs. Their customs, such as circumcision and Sabbath observance, were regarded as peculiar by most Greeks and Romans. They could not however, avoid some degree of assimilation with whoever lived around them. Alexandrian Jews, for example, took to using the Greek language to such an extent that they had to have their scriptures translated into Greek by 200 B.C.E.


Bibliography

Barclay, J. M. G. Jews in the Mediterranean Diaspora: From Alexander the Great to Trajan, 323 b.c.e.-117 c.e. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996.

Rutgers, L. V. The Hidden Heritage of Diaspora Judaism. Leuven, Netherlands: Uitgevrij Peeters, 1998.

Full Article

RELATED CIVILIZATIONS: Greece, Rome, Persia, Egypt.

DATE: 722 B.C.E.-700 C.E.

LOCALE: Mediterranean Basin and Mesopotamia

Jewish Diaspora

The Greek term “diaspora” means scattering. The Jewish diaspora began when Israel’s capital, Samaria, was sacked in 722 B.C.E., and prisoners were deported to Assyria. The Babylonians carried other Jews to Mesopotamia (this even is known as the Babylonian Exile) after they conquered Jerusalem in 587 or 586 B.C.E. Some returned when the Persian king Cyrus the Great allowed them circa 530 B.C.E., but large Jewish communities remained in Mesopotamia for centuries. Other Jews fled to Egypt when Jerusalem fell. They established themselves around the island of Elephantine in the Nile and even built a temple there. When Alexandria was established circa 300 B.C.E., many Jews settled there, eventually becoming approximately one-third of the city’s population. More Jews were driven out of Judaea after the failed revolts against Rome in 66-73 C.E. and 132-135 C.E.

Diaspora Jews usually were allowed to live somewhat separately from the general population, observing their own dietary restrictions, paying a tax to support the Jerusalem temple, and handling their own legal affairs. Their customs, such as circumcision and Sabbath observance, were regarded as peculiar by most Greeks and Romans. They could not however, avoid some degree of assimilation with whoever lived around them. Alexandrian Jews, for example, took to using the Greek language to such an extent that they had to have their scriptures translated into Greek by 200 B.C.E.


Bibliography

Barclay, J. M. G. Jews in the Mediterranean Diaspora: From Alexander the Great to Trajan, 323 b.c.e.-117 c.e. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996.

Rutgers, L. V. The Hidden Heritage of Diaspora Judaism. Leuven, Netherlands: Uitgevrij Peeters, 1998.

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