Timeline of important milestones Jewish history ⋆

Timeline

17th-6th C. BCE

Biblical Times

c.17th century BCE

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob – patriarchs of the Jewish people and bearers of a belief in One GOD – settle in the present-day Land of Israel.
Famine forces Israelites to migrate to Egypt.

c.13th century BCE

Exodus from Egypt: Moses leads the Israelites from Egypt, followed by 40 years of wandering in the desert.
The Torah (GOD’s Law), including the Ten Commandments, received at Mount Sinai.

13th-12th
centuries BCE

Israelites settle in the Promised Land

c. 1020 BCE

Jewish monarchy established; Saul, first king.

c. 1000 BCE

Jerusalem becomes the capital of the kingdom of David, the second king of Israel after Saul.

c. 960 BCE

Construction of the First Holy Temple, the national and spiritual center of the Jewish people, built in Jerusalem by King Solomon (third king and son of David).

c. 930 BCE

The Kingdom is divided:
Judah: in the South, including the territory of the tribe of Judah, the territory of the tribe of Simeon (disappeared and absorbed by the other two) and most of the tribe of Benjamin, as well as numerous members of the tribe of Levi)
Israel: in the North of the Holy Land, composed of most of the tribes

722-720 BCE

Israel defeated by the Assyrians; 10 tribes are exiled (The Ten Lost Tribes).

586 BCE

Judah conquered by Babylon; Jerusalem and the First Holy Temple destroyed; most Jews exiled.

Second Temple Period

538-142 BCE

Persian and Hellenistic periods

538-515 BCE

Many Jews return from Babylon; the Holy Temple is rebuilt.

332 BCE

Holy Land is conquered by Alexander the Great; Hellenistic rule.

166-160 BCE

Maccabean (Hasmonean) revolt against restrictions on practice of Judaism and desecration of the Temple

142-129 BCE

Jewish autonomy under Hasmoneans.

129-63 BCE

Jewish independence under Hasmonean monarchy.

63 BCE

Jerusalem captured by Roman general Pompey.

63 BCE-313
CE

Roman rule

63-4 BCE

Herod, Roman vassal king, rules the Land of Israel;
Temple in Jerusalem refurbished

(CE – The Common Era)

c. 20-33 CE

Ministry of the Rabbi Jesus the Nazarene

66 CE

Jewish revolt against the Romans

70 CE

Destruction of Jerusalem and Second Temple.

73 CE

Last stand of Jews at Masada.

132-135 CE

Bar Kokhba uprising against Rome.

c. 210 CE

Codification of Jewish oral law (Mishna) completed.

Foreign Domination

313-636 CE

Byzantine rule

c. 390 CE

Commentary on the Mishna (Jerusalem Talmud) completed.

614 CE

Persian invasion

636-1099 CE

Arab rule

691 CE

On site of First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, Dome of the Rock built by Caliph Abd el-Malik.

1099-1291 CE

Crusader domination

(Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem)

1291-1516 CE

Mamluk rule

1517-1917 CE

Ottoman rule

1564 CE

Code of Jewish law (Shulhan Arukh) published.

1860 CE

First neighborhood built outside walls of Jerusalem’s Old City.

1882-1903 CE

First Aliya (large-scale immigration), mainly from Russia.

1897 CE

First Zionist Congress convened by Theodor Herzl in Basel, Switzerland; Zionist Organization founded.

1904-14 CE

Second Aliya, mainly from Russia and Poland.

1909 CE

First kibbutz, Degania, and first modern all-Jewish city, Tel Aviv, founded.

1917 CE

400 years of Ottoman rule ended by British conquest;
British Foreign Minister Balfour pledges support for establishment of a “Jewish national home in Palestine”

1918-48 CE

British rule

1919-23 CE

Third Aliya, mainly from Russia

1920 CE

Histadrut (General Federation of Labor) and Haganah (Jewish defense organization) founded.
Vaad Leumi (National Council) set up by Jewish community (Yishuv).

1921 CE

First moshav (cooperative village), Nahalal, founded.

1922 CE

Britain granted Mandate for Palestine by League of Nations; Transjordan set up on three-fourths of the area, leaving one fourth for the Jewish national home.
Jewish Agency representing Jewish community vis-a-vis Mandate authorities set up.

1924 CE

Technion, first institute of technology, founded in Haifa.

1924-32 CE

Fourth Aliya, mainly from Poland.

1925 CE

Hebrew University of Jerusalem opened on Mount Scopus.

1929 CE

The Hebron Massacre refers to the killing of sixty-seven or sixty-nine Jews on August 24, 1929 in Hebron, then part of Mandate Palestine, by Arabs incited to violence by rumors that Jews were planning to take control of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

1931 CE

Etzel foundation of the Jewish underground organization.

1933-39 CE

Fifth Aliya, mainly from Germany.

1936-39 CE

Anti-Jewish riots instigated by Arab terrorists.

1939 CE

Jewish immigration severely limited by British White Paper.

1939-45 CE

World War II; Shoah in Europe.

1941 CE

Lehi underground movement formed; Palmach, strike force of Haganah, set up.

1944 CE

Jewish Brigade formed as part of British forces.

1947 CE

UN proposes the establishment of Arab and Jewish states in the Land.

State of Israel

1948 CE

End of British Mandate (14 May)
State of Israel proclaimed (14 May).
Israel invaded by five Arab states (15 May).
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) established.
War of Independence (May 1948-July 1949).

1949 CE

Armistice agreements signed with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon.
Jerusalem divided under Israeli and Jordanian rule.
First Knesset (parliament) elected.
Israel admitted to United Nations as 59th member.

1948-52 CE

Mass immigration from Europe and Arab countries.

1956 CE

Sinai Campaign

1962 CE

Adolf Eichmann tried and executed in Israel for his part in the Holocaust.

1964 CE

National Water Carrier completed, bringing water from Lake Kinneret in the north to the semi-arid south.

1967 CE

Six-Day War; Jerusalem reunited.

1968-70 CE

Egypt’s War of Attrition against Israel

1973 CE

Yom Kippur War

1975 CE

Israel becomes an associate member of the European Common Market.

1977 CE

Likud forms government after Knesset elections, end of 30 years of Labor rule.
Visit of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem.

1978 CE

Camp David Accords include framework for comprehensive peace in the Middle East and proposal for Palestinian self-government.

1979 CE

Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty signed.
Prime Minister Menachem Begin and President Anwar Sadat awarded Nobel Peace Prize.

1981 CE

Israel Air Force destroys Iraqi nuclear reactor just before it is to become operative.

1982 CE

Israel’s three-stage withdrawal from Sinai Peninsula completed.
Operation Peace for Galilee removes Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) terrorists from Lebanon.

1984 CE

National unity government (Likud and Labor) formed after elections.
Operation Moses, immigration of Jews from Ethiopia.

1985 CE

Free Trade Agreement signed with United States.

1987 CE

Widespread violence (Intifada) starts in Israeli-administered areas.

1988 CE

Likud government wins elections.

1989 CE

Four-point peace initiative proposed by Israel.
Start of mass immigration of Jews from former Soviet Union.

1991 CE

Israel attacked by Iraqi Scud missiles during Gulf war.
Middle East peace conference convened in Madrid;
Operation Solomon, airlift of Jews from Ethiopia.

1992 CE

Diplomatic relations established with China and India.
New government headed by Yitzhak Rabin of Labor Party.

1993 CE

Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements for the Palestinians signed by Israel and PLO, as representative of the Palestinian people (Oslo Accords).

1994 CE

Implementation of Palestinian self-government in Gaza Strip and Jericho area.
Full diplomatic relations with the Holy See.
Morocco and Tunisia interest offices set up.
Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty signed.
Rabin, Peres, Arafat awarded Nobel Peace Prize.

1995 CE

Broadened Palestinian self-government implemented in West Bank and Gaza Strip; Palestinian Council elected.
Prime Minister Rabin assassinated at peace rally.
Shimon Peres becomes prime minister.

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17th-6th C. BCE	Biblical Times

c.17th century BCE	Abraham, Isaac, Jacob – patriarchs of the Jewish people and bearers of a belief in One GOD – settle in the present-day Land of Israel. Famine forces Israelites to migrate to Egypt.
c.13th century BCE	Exodus from Egypt: Moses leads the Israelites from Egypt, followed by 40 years of wandering in the desert. The Torah (GOD’s Law), including the Ten Commandments, received at Mount Sinai.
13th-12th centuries BCE	Israelites settle in the Promised Land
c. 1020 BCE	Jewish monarchy established; Saul, first king.
c. 1000 BCE	Jerusalem becomes the capital of the kingdom of David, the second king of Israel after Saul.
c. 960 BCE	Construction of the First Holy Temple, the national and spiritual center of the Jewish people, built in Jerusalem by King Solomon (third king and son of David).
c. 930 BCE	The Kingdom is divided: Judah: in the South, including the territory of the tribe of Judah, the territory of the tribe of Simeon (disappeared and absorbed by the other two) and most of the tribe of Benjamin, as well as numerous members of the tribe of Levi) Israel: in the North of the Holy Land, composed of most of the tribes
722-720 BCE	Israel defeated by the Assyrians; 10 tribes are exiled (The Ten Lost Tribes).
586 BCE	Judah conquered by Babylon; Jerusalem and the First Holy Temple destroyed; most Jews exiled.
Second Temple Period
538-142 BCE	Persian and Hellenistic periods
538-515 BCE	Many Jews return from Babylon; the Holy Temple is rebuilt.
332 BCE	Holy Land is conquered by Alexander the Great; Hellenistic rule.
166-160 BCE	Maccabean (Hasmonean) revolt against restrictions on practice of Judaism and desecration of the Temple
142-129 BCE	Jewish autonomy under Hasmoneans.
129-63 BCE	Jewish independence under Hasmonean monarchy.
63 BCE	Jerusalem captured by Roman general Pompey.

63 BCE-313 CE	Roman rule
63-4 BCE	Herod, Roman vassal king, rules the Land of Israel; Temple in Jerusalem refurbished
(CE – The Common Era)
c. 20-33 CE	Ministry of the Rabbi Jesus the Nazarene
66 CE	Jewish revolt against the Romans
70 CE	Destruction of Jerusalem and Second Temple.
73 CE	Last stand of Jews at Masada.
132-135 CE	Bar Kokhba uprising against Rome.
c. 210 CE	Codification of Jewish oral law (Mishna) completed.

Foreign Domination
313-636 CE	Byzantine rule
c. 390 CE	Commentary on the Mishna (Jerusalem Talmud) completed.
614 CE	Persian invasion

636-1099 CE	Arab rule
691 CE	On site of First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, Dome of the Rock built by Caliph Abd el-Malik.

1099-1291 CE	Crusader domination (Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem)

1291-1516 CE	Mamluk rule

1517-1917 CE	Ottoman rule
1564 CE	Code of Jewish law (Shulhan Arukh) published.
1860 CE	First neighborhood built outside walls of Jerusalem’s Old City.
1882-1903 CE	First Aliya (large-scale immigration), mainly from Russia.
1897 CE	First Zionist Congress convened by Theodor Herzl in Basel, Switzerland; Zionist Organization founded.
1904-14 CE	Second Aliya, mainly from Russia and Poland.
1909 CE	First kibbutz, Degania, and first modern all-Jewish city, Tel Aviv, founded.
1917 CE	400 years of Ottoman rule ended by British conquest; British Foreign Minister Balfour pledges support for establishment of a “Jewish national home in Palestine”

1918-48 CE	British rule
1919-23 CE	Third Aliya, mainly from Russia
1920 CE	Histadrut (General Federation of Labor) and Haganah (Jewish defense organization) founded. Vaad Leumi (National Council) set up by Jewish community (Yishuv).
1921 CE	First moshav (cooperative village), Nahalal, founded.
1922 CE	Britain granted Mandate for Palestine by League of Nations; Transjordan set up on three-fourths of the area, leaving one fourth for the Jewish national home. Jewish Agency representing Jewish community vis-a-vis Mandate authorities set up.
1924 CE	Technion, first institute of technology, founded in Haifa.
1924-32 CE	Fourth Aliya, mainly from Poland.
1925 CE	Hebrew University of Jerusalem opened on Mount Scopus.
1929 CE	The Hebron Massacre refers to the killing of sixty-seven or sixty-nine Jews on August 24, 1929 in Hebron, then part of Mandate Palestine, by Arabs incited to violence by rumors that Jews were planning to take control of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
1931 CE	Etzel foundation of the Jewish underground organization.
1933-39 CE	Fifth Aliya, mainly from Germany.
1936-39 CE	Anti-Jewish riots instigated by Arab terrorists.
1939 CE	Jewish immigration severely limited by British White Paper.
1939-45 CE	World War II; Shoah in Europe.
1941 CE	Lehi underground movement formed; Palmach, strike force of Haganah, set up.
1944 CE	Jewish Brigade formed as part of British forces.
1947 CE	UN proposes the establishment of Arab and Jewish states in the Land.

State of Israel
1948 CE	End of British Mandate (14 May) State of Israel proclaimed (14 May). Israel invaded by five Arab states (15 May). Israel Defense Forces (IDF) established. War of Independence (May 1948-July 1949).
1949 CE	Armistice agreements signed with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon. Jerusalem divided under Israeli and Jordanian rule. First Knesset (parliament) elected. Israel admitted to United Nations as 59th member.
1948-52 CE	Mass immigration from Europe and Arab countries.
1956 CE	Sinai Campaign
1962 CE	Adolf Eichmann tried and executed in Israel for his part in the Holocaust.
1964 CE	National Water Carrier completed, bringing water from Lake Kinneret in the north to the semi-arid south.
1967 CE	Six-Day War; Jerusalem reunited.
1968-70 CE	Egypt’s War of Attrition against Israel
1973 CE	Yom Kippur War
1975 CE	Israel becomes an associate member of the European Common Market.
1977 CE	Likud forms government after Knesset elections, end of 30 years of Labor rule. Visit of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem.
1978 CE	Camp David Accords include framework for comprehensive peace in the Middle East and proposal for Palestinian self-government.
1979 CE	Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty signed. Prime Minister Menachem Begin and President Anwar Sadat awarded Nobel Peace Prize.
1981 CE	Israel Air Force destroys Iraqi nuclear reactor just before it is to become operative.
1982 CE	Israel’s three-stage withdrawal from Sinai Peninsula completed. Operation Peace for Galilee removes Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) terrorists from Lebanon.
1984 CE	National unity government (Likud and Labor) formed after elections. Operation Moses, immigration of Jews from Ethiopia.
1985 CE	Free Trade Agreement signed with United States.
1987 CE	Widespread violence (Intifada) starts in Israeli-administered areas.
1988 CE	Likud government wins elections.
1989 CE	Four-point peace initiative proposed by Israel. Start of mass immigration of Jews from former Soviet Union.
1991 CE	Israel attacked by Iraqi Scud missiles during Gulf war. Middle East peace conference convened in Madrid; Operation Solomon, airlift of Jews from Ethiopia.
1992 CE	Diplomatic relations established with China and India. New government headed by Yitzhak Rabin of Labor Party.
1993 CE	Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements for the Palestinians signed by Israel and PLO, as representative of the Palestinian people (Oslo Accords).
1994 CE	Implementation of Palestinian self-government in Gaza Strip and Jericho area. Full diplomatic relations with the Holy See. Morocco and Tunisia interest offices set up. Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty signed. Rabin, Peres, Arafat awarded Nobel Peace Prize.
1995 CE	Broadened Palestinian self-government implemented in West Bank and Gaza Strip; Palestinian Council elected. Prime Minister Rabin assassinated at peace rally. Shimon Peres becomes prime minister.