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Jan 1, 1492
Spanish Inquisition
Isabelle and Ferdinand decide to "purify" their land. They do so by giving Jews a choice: convert or leave. This is a major event in Jewish History. It forces Jews to find a home that is religiously tolerant, diverse, and with job opportunities. This event sparks the Modern Era in Jewish history. -
Period: Sep 1, 1492 to
The Early Modern Period
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Jan 1, 1563
Shulchan Aruch
Rav Yosef Caro finishes writing the Shulchan Aruch. This immediately becomes the most reliabe code for Jews all around the world and sets the tone for the modern Jewish era. This date also marks the beginning of the Acharonim period. -
Baruch Spinoza
Baruch Spinoza was essentially the first secular Jew in history. He intended to break from Jewish thought and pursue Enlightenment ways of thinkng. -
European Enlightenment
This is roughly the beginning of the time in which thinking changed from the past to the future. Thinkers like Karl Marx and John Locke came up with ideas about progressing in time and in knowledge. THis posed as a tough one for the Jews, existing directly in affirmation of its school of thought. -
Jews in America
This date in time marks the first Jews migrating to America. They would go on to start some of the biggest Jewish communities in the world and place where Judaism thrives today. -
American Revolution
The British colonists have had enough of their mother country (England) and decide to declare independence. The eight-year war resulted with the establishment of the United States of America. -
French Revolution
This 10-year war served as a period of insane revolt and reform regarding social and political matters. -
Moses Mendelssohn
Moses Mendelssohn publishes a work calling out to the Enlightenment thinkers to tolerate the Jews in Europe during the pivotal period of the Enlightenment. -
Edict of Toleration
There are many rules that allow Jews to ease their ways into society like living outside of the Jewish Quarter, taking last names, owning factories, etc. -
Berr Isaac Berr
Berr Isaac Berr writes a letter to his fellow Jews. He is embarassed to be part of the Jewish nation and calls on his fellow Yidin to fulfill the duties that come with citizenship and the adaption into culture progresses for the Jews. -
Emancipation of the Jews of France
Everyone must take a civic oath. This is great for the individual Jew, but not so great for the Jews as a community. -
Reform Judaism
The first Reform Temple is established in Hamburg, Germany. The movement is endorsed by four major poskim. This caused the birth of denominational Judaism.
