The Jewish diaspora is the world’s oldest. Jews began leaving Israel nearly 3000 years ago with the invasion of Judea by the Assyrian Empire.

The destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70AD  caused the dispersal of many Jews to other parts of the Middle East and North Africa including Alexandria in Egypt and Algeria. Jewish communities then established themselves in the Iberian peninsula and in Europe during the Middle Ages.

The Spanish Inquisition led to another dispersal in the 15th and 16th centuries with many Jews leaving for Morocco, Venice, Istanbul and the newly independent Nerherlands. Jews were prevented from living in England for more than 500 years until The Restoration under Charles the 2nd in 1660 when communities of Jews arrived.