Jews

The Jewish people have a very long history.

They came from lands called Israel and Judah. Many follow a faith called Judaism. This faith uses a holy book.

Long ago, wars forced many people to move. They moved to many different lands. This is called a diaspora.

Even far from home, they kept their culture. They stayed close through their shared stories. They still share these traditions today.

The Jewish people have a long and deep history. They began as the Israelites in ancient lands. These lands were called Israel and Judah.

Many Jews follow a faith called Judaism. This faith is tied to their culture and people. Some Jews follow these traditions, while others do not. Religious Jews believe their faith is a bond with God.

In the past, many wars caused people to move. These wars were fought against the Roman Empire. Many Jews died or were forced to leave home. This spread of people is called a diaspora.

Because of this, Jewish groups settled in new places. Some moved to Europe. Others moved to the Middle East or North Africa. These groups are called Ashkenazim, Sephardim, and Mizrahim.

During World War II, a terrible event called the Holocaust happened. Nazi Germany murdered about six million Jews. Since then, the population has slowly grown again. Today, many Jews live in Israel and the United States.

The Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group with a very long history. This means their identity is tied to both a culture and a religion. They began as the ancient Israelites in the land of Israel and Judah.

Many people in this group follow the faith known as Judaism. For many, this religion is a way of life that connects them to their ancestors. Some people are ethnically Jewish but do not practice the religion. However, religious Jews believe that people who join the faith through conversion become part of the Jewish nation.

Jewish history is shaped by many movements of people. In the ancient past, the Israelites grew from Canaanite peoples to form kingdoms. Later, the religion evolved from what scholars call Yahwism. By the late 6th century BCE, Judaism had become a distinct way of life. Following the Babylonian exile, the term "Jew" was often used for followers of Judaism.

These changes helped shape how the community saw itself. The people maintained a strong sense of history even as their world changed.

Many difficult events caused the Jewish people to move to new lands. Wars against the Roman Empire led to a period called the diaspora. This word describes the scattering of a people away from their original home. During the Great Revolt, about 600,000 Jews died. Later, the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 CE caused about 500,000 deaths. These wars and other hardships caused the population in Palestine to decrease significantly. Many people also moved to places like Babylon due to hard economic times.

As Jewish communities settled in different parts of the world, they formed distinct groups. These groups are often named after where their ancestors lived. The Ashkenazim settled in Central and Eastern Europe. The Sephardim lived on the Iberian Peninsula. The Mizrahim settled in the Middle East and North Africa.

These groups kept their own unique traditions and cultures. They used their shared language and values to stay connected. Even while living far from home, they often held onto the idea of returning to their ancestral land.

In more recent history, the Jewish population has seen great changes. Before World War II, there were about 16.7 million Jews worldwide. During the Holocaust, Nazi Germany systematically murdered about six million Jews. Since that time, the population has slowly grown again. By 2012, it was estimated to be around 15.2 million people.

Today, over 85% of Jews live in Israel or the United States. Israel is a place where many Jews feel a deep connection to their history.

The Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation. This term means their identity connects both a specific ethnicity and a religion. They originated from the ancient Israelites in the regions of Israel and Judah.

Many in this group follow the faith known as Judaism. Judaism is considered an ethnic religion. This means the culture and the faith are deeply intertwined. Some people are ethnically Jewish but do not practice the religion. However, religious Jews view converts as members of the Jewish nation. This inclusion follows a long-standing process of conversion.

Ancient history shows how this group emerged in the Southern Levant. During the Iron Age, the Israelites grew from pre-existing Canaanite peoples. They established the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Scholars describe this emergence as an upshot of Canaanite culture. Originally, the term "Jew" referred to the inhabitants of Judah. These people were distinguished from Samaritans and gentiles. According to the Hebrew Bible, many came from the tribe of Judah. This tribe descended from Judah, the fourth son of Jacob. The tribe of Benjamin was another significant group in Judah.

Religious practices evolved significantly over many centuries. By the late 6th century BCE, Judaism had changed from earlier Israelite religion. Modern scholars call the earlier religion Yahwism, named after Yahweh. Religious Jews believe their theology expresses a Mosaic covenant. This is a sacred agreement between God and the Jewish people. After the Babylonian exile, the term "Jew" took on new meanings. It was used for followers of Judaism and descendants of Israelites. It also described citizens of Judea or allies of the Judean state.

Conflict with the Roman Empire led to major population shifts. Migration during the Hellenistic period and subsequent wars caused the Jewish diaspora. The diaspora refers to the scattering of Jews away from their homeland. This process involved many difficult events and population transfers. During the Great Revolt against Rome, about 600,000 Jews died. Later, the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 CE caused about 500,000 deaths. Massacres accounted for roughly 40 percent of the population decrease in Palestine. Economic hardship also drove many to migrate to Babylon.

Roman actions further changed the landscape of Jewish life. After the revolts, the Roman general Titus destroyed the Second Temple in AD 70. This event caused Jews to be scattered to many corners of the world. The Roman leader Hadrian later turned Jerusalem into a pagan city. He named it Colonia Aelia Capitolina. Jews were forbidden from entering this new city under penalty of death. The economic structure of the region was largely destroyed. Many Jews were sold into slavery during these periods. Much of the spiritual and economic life moved to Galilee.

As communities settled globally, they formed three major ethnic subdivisions. These groups are defined by where their ancestors lived. The Ashkenazim settled in Central and Eastern Europe. The Sephardim lived on the Iberian Peninsula. The Mizrahim settled in the Middle East and North Africa.

These groups maintained unique cultural identities. They used shared language, values, and social norms to stay connected. Despite the challenges of exile, they often held onto the idea of returning home. Some communities eventually adjusted to their hostlands and became centers of cultural creation.

Recent history includes significant demographic changes. Before World War II, the global Jewish population reached 16.7 million. This was about 0.7 percent of the world population. During the Holocaust, Nazi Germany systematically murdered approximately six million Jews. Since that time, the population has slowly risen again. By 2012, the population was estimated at 15.2 million. This is less than 0.2 percent of the total world population. Today, over 85 percent of Jews live in the United States or Israel. Israel is the only country where Jews make up more than 2.5 percent of the population.