Jewish Diaspora
Definition
The Jewish Diaspora refers to the dispersion of Jews beyond Israel. This has occurred several times in history, most notably after the Babylonian exile and after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE.
Analogy
Imagine if a large family lived together in one house (Israel), but due to various circumstances, they had to move out and live in different parts of the world. Despite living far apart, they still share common traditions, beliefs, and maintain their identity as a family - this is similar to the Jewish Diaspora.
Related terms
Zionism: A movement for (originally) the re-establishment and (now) the development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel; it was established as a response to the diaspora.
Babylonian Exile: An event when many Jews were forced into exile in Babylonia following its conquest of Jerusalem.
Holocaust: A genocide during World War II where six million European Jews were murdered by Nazi Germany; this event led to another significant dispersal of Jews around the globe.
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