Diaspora (from Greek meaning “dispersion”) refers to the historical dispersion of Jews outside their ancestral homeland in Israel. The Jewish diaspora began with the Babylonian exile in 586 BCE and expanded following the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE and the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 CE.

Throughout this 2,000-year diaspora, Jewish communities maintained their distinct identity, religious practices, and connection to the Land of Israel. Despite being dispersed across six continents and experiencing varying degrees of acceptance or persecution, Jewish communities preserved their traditions, language (Hebrew for religious purposes), and yearning to return to their homeland, expressed in daily prayers, lifecycle events, and holiday observances.

The modern Jewish diaspora maintains strong connections with Israel while developing distinct cultural expressions in various host countries. Today, approximately 8 million Jews live in the diaspora, primarily in North America and Europe, while approximately 7 million Jews live in Israel, making this the first time since antiquity that such a significant proportion of the world’s Jewish population resides in their ancestral homeland.