Judaism Timeline Project

7 Days of Creation

75,000 BCE

This event is significant for a few reasons- first, it's influence on global society is apparent in the 7 day week that all but a small portion of the world does not follow. Second, the tradition of the sabbath in Jewish and Christian communities or "day of rest" (weekend) occurring on the 7th day when God rested has continued through the years and is especially prominent in the western hemisphere, although followed globally. Finally, it's viewed as earth's beginning by Jews and Christians.

Creation of Ishah (woman) to accompany Ish (man)

7500 BCE

This event is significant because it provides insight into how important marriage is in Jewish culture. "Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This is a passage from the book of Genesis in the Torah, describing the importance of bonding and partnership (and of course individual roles) in marriage, because God made Eve for Adam, so that he wouldn't be alone, all men are to be married and value their wives as God's gifts.

God’s covenant with Noah

1700 BCE

This event is significant because it displays God's close relationship and loyalty to the Jews by sparing them from the flood and promising to protect them through the symbol of the rainbow. This first covenant holds great importance to the current Jewish population, as it is the first time that God showed them mercy and favour, and promised for all eternity (including current day!) to continue to reward them this way for faith and loyalty.

God’s covenant with Abram

1638 BCE

This event is significant because it is the first mention of the promised land (Canaan) as recompense from God (aka God upholding his end of his covenant with Noah and future Jewish generations). The promised land did and still does hold great significance to Jews as a gift from God for their faith and obedience to him, and as a protected sanctity- "flowing with milk and honey"- or prosperous and rich with resources.

Circumcision is introduced to uphold the covenant

1600 BCE

This event is significant because of its impact on modern life. This tradition is still upheld by the Jewish people to physically signify their covenant with God. As well, it is significant because of the reason it was initially implemented by God- an unpleasant experience to display ones faith and to serve as a physical differentiation of those who are faithful and those who are not.

Abram is renamed Abraham “Father of Nations”

1600 BCE

This event is significant because it displays God's honour of the covenant by providing Abraham with the promise of children- to be the "Father of Nations"- a wish he has had for many years, but has reached old age without it being fulfilled, in return for his devout faith. It is the beginning of the most central family line in Judaism, a story told generations later to model the ideal image of faith, family, behaviour and character using the theme of God's covenants with the Jews.

Joseph and his descendants settle in Egypt because of the famine in Canaan

1400 BCE

This event is significant because it leads up to the Israelites being enslaved in Egypt and places them in the correct place at the correct time to be enslaved and to have God interfere.

The Exodus

1280 BCE

This event is significant for the same reasons discussed in the event "The Hebrews are "passed over" and spared from the final plague"- God once again coming in to uphold the covenant and save his people. It is also significant because of current day celebrations of their liberation after oppression and God's provision. Finally, this event marks the beginning of their journey back to the promised land and is significant for its place in the timeline of this ongoing journey.

Giving of the commandments and the Torah

1280 BCE

This event is significant because of the Torah's importance throughout history up to today. The Torah is used everyday, especially on Sundays (the Sabbath) to teach the word of God, the ways life should be lived as a Jewish observer and the laws set out to protect and guide Jews in ways that uphold their end of the covenant. For example, the laws of Kosher in households and during meals, or the use of G-d so as not to take the Lord's name in vain.

The Hebrews are “passed over” and spared from the final plague

1280 BCE

This event is significant because it shows God upholding his end of the covenant once again. Since the Hebrews were spared- "passed over" from the 10th and final plague of death, Passover has become a celebration in the following years to mark God's mercy, provision and love for his people because of their faith- actions promised to them in his covenants with Abraham and Noah.

Moses (God) parts the Red Sea to save the Hebrews

1280 BCE

This event is significant because ONCE AGAIN God comes in with that covenant to save the Hebrews, proving how loyal he is to his people, not only the people saved from the Egyptians by crossing through a sea, but all the generations going forward, as they learn from the interactions of their ancestors and the God they worship. The parting of the Red Sea is also celebrated during Passover as well as The Exodus and the Passover in current day celebrations.

Holy Ark and Tabernacle are commanded to be made

1270 BCE

This event is significant because of its effect on how the Holy scrolls are stored today. The Torah and Talmud are kept in a cabinet, covered just as the holy ark covered the original scrolls in the desert, the tabernacle holding the ark as the synagogue holds the cabinet today. This event was also important historically, as it was the task commanded by God to be completed by the Jews after they were unfaithful to him by an idol. It was to be completed together, for God and his given word.

Kosher dietary guidelines are introduced

1270 BCE

This event is significant because of the adherence by today's Jews. This law was implemented many thousands of years ago and is still followed by all Hasidic, Orthodox and (most) Conservative Jews (as well as some Reform). These guidelines were given to the Jews by God to differentiate them from the unfaithful by being clean even in their eating and cooking habits. Kosher guidelines include; never eating dairy and meat together, never storing meat and dairy together and no split hooved animals.

King Solomon’s Temple Built

833 BCE

This event is significant because it was the first temple built in Jerusalem, but also because it was built by king Solomon, though planned by his father, God saw Solomon and good and more fit to build a temple for him. The temple held great significance as a place of worship, sanctity, sacrifice and prayer- all to uphold their end of the covenant with God. This is the reason that all synagogues around the world face Jerusalem, in homage to the temple, the original place of worship.

Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar destroys Solomon’s temple and Jerusalem

586 BCE

This event is significant because the destruction of the temple meant the place of worship and religious importance for the Jews was gone, as well as the security of their homeland. Since the temple was destroyed by Babylonians, the city had been taken over by Babylonians as well, ending cultural and religious majority, as well as peace, freedom and safety for the Jewish people. Their promised land was gone once again.

Maccabean uprising and temple rebuilt

164 BCE

This event is significant because of the liberation of the Jewish people from oppression once again. This was a sign to them that God was still upholding his covenant with them and had not abandoned them through their faithfulness. The rebuilding of the temple only solidifies these ideas, and the restoration of the Jewish place of worship symbolizes their strength from God through times of struggle.

Temple destroyed again

70

This event is significant because its impact is still felt today. There has not since been another temple built, nor will there be and the Jewish people are without such a place, not only of worship and holy, but from one commanded by God directly, to be close to God in a physical and historical manner. This is the reason that the temple is mourned in Jewish homes frequently and that all other places of worship face in its direction.

Jewish extradition from Spain

1492

This event is significant because of the affect it had on the numerical value of the Jewish population. Extradited for being "a threat to Christianity", many Jews died fleeing the country, or before they were able to. This displays a pattern seen previously in this timeline, and one that will continue. This event holds insight- oppression could be a reason the numbers of Judaism are so small, from murders, to deaths from fleeing or forced labour and even converts out due to the discrimination.

Rise of Nazism and the Holocaust in Europe

1933

This event is significant as the Jewish population will never be the same. From the decrease in Jewish numbers to the very original "extermination" methods, the corruption of the Nazi mindset by the large majority of E. Europe has never been rivaled by anything as baffling and horrific. 6 million people wiped out, systematically, huge migration out of Europe, converts out of Judaism and generations of trauma. Nothing much needs to be said as the Holocaust had such impact it speaks for itself.

First female rabbi ordained in Germany

1935

This event is significant because of the strict gender roles in Judaism, a woman being ordained for the first time challenges the belief that women belong in the home with children. Many believe this directly goes against the foundations in Judaism for home life and family (both VERY important), so a woman following through with such a controversial stance resulted in future female rabbis and a growing belief that women can have more of a presence than in the home.

Declaration of the modern State of Israel

1948

This event was significant because after such a horrific experience for the Jewish population, they were granted a separate, secure land of their own majority in the area of the promised land, returned to them from the time of their last security under King Solomon. Once again, this theme of the covenant occurs and God provides for his people when they need him most. Oppression may be theme in Jewish history, but so is redemption.