First Temple Period
The Riddle of First Temple Tombs One hundred and thirty rock-cut tombs have been found in Jerusalem from the First Temple period, some of which bear inscriptions that attest to…
Second Temple early period
The Building of the Second Temple In 586 BCE the First Temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and the Jewish people went into exile in Babylon. Forty-seven years later,…
Karaites and Israel Yeshiva
The Yeshiva of the Land of Israel Shortly after the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem, Jews were permitted to return and live in the city. The Jews viewed the Muslim conquest…
Kabbalah in the Jewish Quarter
Kabbalah in the Jewish Quarter Kabbalah appeared in southern France and Spain in the 13th century with the publication of the Zohar, and swiftly conquered the Jewish center in Spain.…
Messianism in the Jewish Quarter
Shabbatai Zevi In the late 17th century, interest in Kabbalah intensified, and the Zohar became increasingly popular. Refugees from Russia (persecutions of 1648–1649) arrived in the Ottoman Empire. Against this…
19th Century Jewish Awakening
Jewish Awakening in the 19th Century At the beginning of the 19th century, Jerusalem was neglected and poor, with a population of 10,000 residents, of whom 2,000 were Jews. By…