1. The Kingdom of Israel
According to the Hebrew Bible, early Israelites were often led by leaders called judges, who were usually warriors or prophets. The nation was then ruled by kings, such as Saul, David, and his son Solomon, builder of the First Temple and author of many wise proverbs. After the death of Solomon, Israel split into two kingdoms, each of which was conquered by foreign powers. About 587 bce, Babylonians destroyed Solomon’s Temple and took thousands of Jews to Babylon to live in exile—separation from one's homeland. About 50 years later, after Persia had conquered the Babylonians, Cyrus the Great allowed Jews to return home.

2. What Was the Diaspora?
Over the next several centuries, Jews gradually spread throughout the eastern Mediterranean and into Europe, Asia, and Africa. These communities of Jews living away from their homeland in Israel came to be known as the Diaspora. While Jews were living far from Jerusalem under Persian, Greek, and Roman rulers, community leaders found new ways of worshipping and being Jewish. They worked to preserve traditional texts and laws. The preservation of those texts and laws, and of ethical and ritual requirements, was key to the development of Judaism as a religion. Judaism survived outside the homeland by focusing on the Torah and Jewish teachings, and by maintaining its strong religious and historic connection to the Land of Israel.

3. Judaism's Support for Society
The Hebrew Bible contains guidance and laws that detail how people should respond to poverty, famine, and injustice. It teaches that individuals and society must care for strangers and refugees, respect others’ rights and property, and honor parents and respect marriage.
The concept of justice and equality under the law is contained in what may be the earliest legal system, with lower courts for simple disputes, and high courts that examine and rule on the difficult cases. The Torah and Talmud even provide instructions addressing animal rights and providing humane treatment. The Torah also includes environmental protections, such as keeping land fertile by rotating crops and not destroying or wasting resources.

4. What Is the Legacy of Judaism?
Judaism’s legacies include teachings about one supreme, invisible God who created everything, an idea shared by Christians and Muslims as well. The ethical teachings of Judaism have influenced spiritual leaders in all parts of the world.
The poetic language of the Hebrew Bible makes it a classic of world literature, as do its dramatic stories of unforgettable figures such as Moses, David, and Esther. One of the greatest legacies of Judaism is the set of values that have been incorporated into what many call the Judeo-Christian tradition. These moral and ethical values form a basis for modern democratic societies such as the United States.