1948 (May 14)
On May 14, 1948, Israel declared independence. This was the first time in 2,900 years that Israel was both a sovereign and united nation.
The World Jewish Congress estimates a total Jewish population of about 15 million, with about half living in Israel, and the remainder living in communities throughout the world.
During the first and second centuries of this era, Jews waged two unsuccessful wars against the Romans for independence. The Romans forced many Jews into exile, scattering them throughout the Roman Empire.
During the centuries that followed, Jews were often persecuted and forced to leave whatever countries they were residing in and find new places to live, causing the dispersion of Jewish people to reach global proportions. Even today, there continues to be Jewish communities within each of the world's six inhabitable continents.
After the Holocaust, during which 6 million Jews were killed, hundreds of thousands of Jews returned to their ancient homeland. They declared independence in 1948, creating the modern country of Israel.
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Go to: Bible history timeline