Brief Look At Jewish History Essay, Research Paper

The Jews are a people with a multitude of dilemmas. From the

Israelite tribes to the prosperous modern day Israel , bigotry

towards the Jews has been greatly evident. The Jewish race has

acted as Escape Goat for many crisis throughout history including

the black plaque which swept across Europe in the 14th century.

The establishment of Israel was a great incident was something the

Jewish people were striving to obtain for generations. This,

however, led to four major conflicts between Israel and the Arab

countries. One of the most meaningful wars was the Six-Day War.

Events such as the holocaust have also had a dramatic effect on

world history and whose mysteries are still being unravelled.

For twelve years following 1933 the Jews were persecuted by

the Nazi’s. Jewish businesses were boycotted and vandalized. By

1939,Jews were no longer citizens,could not attend public

schools,engage in practically any business or profession, own any

land, associate with any non-Jew or visit public places such as

parks and museums. The victories of the German armies in the early

years of World War II brought the majority of European Jewry under

the Nazis. The Jews were deprived of human rights. The Jewish

people were forced to live in Ghetto’s which were separated from

the main city. Hitler’s plan of genocide was carried out with

efficiency. The total number of Jews exterminated has been

calculated at around 5,750,000.

In Warsaw ,where approximately 400,000 Jews had once been

concentrated,was reduced to a population of 60,000. They, virtually

unarmed, resisted the German deportation order and had held back

the regular German troops equipped with flame throwers,armoured

cards, and tanks for nearly a month. This heroism was similar to

the revolt which took place around 165BC. This uprising was led by

the Maccabees, a provincial priestly family (also called

Hasmoneans). They recaptured the Temple and rededicated it to the

God of Israel. The Maccabees made there last stand on a mountain

and was able to hold back the syrians for more then a month. There

is a distinct similarity between the two stories and that is

possibly why they are both recognised as holidays in the Jewish

faith.

These horrific events of the holocaust have let to some

consequences which are beneficial and some are unfortunate to the

Jewish people. The population of the followers has greatly

declined. Also the Jewish people after the war still had problems

finding jobs. They had to essentially start there life over. Most

of them lost a close relative or at least knew someone who died in

the gas chambers of the Nazi concentration camps. This has put a

psychological strain on Jewish survivors or no longer having family

and friends with them for support. This event has awaken the world

up to the needs of the Jewish people. It has given them political

power and a justification for some of their actions.

On May recognised,1945 ,the end of World War II was seen.

Organized Jewry in the European continent was damaged beyond

repair. The Jews concentrated on the preservation of Israel and on

the bringing of Nazi war criminals to trial.

There is a day of commemoration, Holocaust Day, observed in

Israel and elsewhere on Nisan (April) 19 and 20. The date is

considered the anniversary of the beginning of the Warsaw Ghetto

Uprising.

The emergence of Israel as a Jewish state on the former

territory of Palestine was the central political issue of the

Middle East after World War II. A movement was established to work

on the reestablishment of the Jewish national state of Israel.

This movement was given the name Zionism. The Zionists were full

of energy,enthusiasm, and skill which led to remarkable

accomplishments. Israel was a modern European state in an

underdeveloped area. This was the source of there problems and

their achievements.

The Jews received vast amounts of financial and military

support from Western governments. The Israelis also benefitted

from a highly trained and motivated citizenry to create a unique

nation-state.

It had taken the Zionists seventy years to purchase 7 per cent

of Palestine. Now the UN was offering them another 50 per cent.

The partition plan was objected by all of that Arab and Palestinian

Arab governments. The Zionists excepted the plan. They however

were upset that Jerusalem was excluded from the Jewish state.

The Jews were the most fertile land including the citrus

groves upon which the Arabs depended on for their living. Many of

the nations of the world felt guilt or grief of the Hitler era.

This is what is believed to have pressured the United Nations to

establish a Jewish state.

The partition of Palestine was greatly important to both

Jewish history and world history. It gave the Jews a place to seek

refuge in during the Nazi persecutions. This led to a change in

the nature of Zionist activities. They became more violent. The

Jewish army called Haganah(defense)was formed to protect Israel

from Arab attacks. This is remembered as a historic event for it

has greatly effected the lives of present day Middle East and all

other countries.

The cause of the Six-Day War of June 1967 was Egypt’s closure

of the Strait of Tiran. This war focused on the issue of Israel’s

legitimacy. Withdrawal of the UN troops after May 16 signified to

the Israelis that ultimately they would be responsible for their

own defense. From this war the jews regained control of the West

Bank of the Jordan River. Syria was pushed by a frontal assault

through the Golan Heights and threatened Damascus.

The United Nation security council managed to execute a cease-

fire on June 11th. By this time the Arab states had lost

territory, much of their productive capacity, and a large amounts

of revenue. Their mental and political defeat set the tone for the

events of the following years. The defeat of the Arab governments

also gave a powerful force to the Palestine guerrilla movement.

The Wailing Wall is on of Judaism’s most honoured holy places.

With the original United Nation’s partition it was located in Old

Jerusalem, previously occupied by Jordan. The Six Day was returned

it to its rightful owners , Israel.

As is clearly visible through these few examples the Jewish

race have had a very trailing history. This however is only a

small representation of the rest of the Jewish problems. War , for

example, is still present. In 1991 in the Persian Gulf Israel was

continuously bombed by Iraq. If Israel would have fought back

chances are there would have had most of the Arabian countries join

in with Iraq to eliminate the common enemy. Therefor the problems

are yet not resolved yet it seems there is never a perfect solution

to any problem.

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Bibliography

1. Holocaust : the Jewish tragedy

Gilbert,Martin,

COLLI 1986

2. Israel & the Arabs: The June 1967 War

Facts on file, INC. New York, N.Y.

1968

3. The Holocaust in Historical Perspective

Yehuda Bauer

University of Washington Press

1978