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עמוד:9
When the ancient Babylonians conquered Israel in 586 BCE ( more than 2 , 500 years ago ) , our ancestors were forced to leave the land . While some settled in Babylonia , others went to Egypt , Yemen , Persia , and beyond . This was the d beginning of the Diaspora , the Jewish i communities living outside of Israel . Jews were permitted to return to the Land of Israel in 538 BCE by Cyrus , the king of Persia . Jerusalem was rebuilt and the Second Temple was constructed . Then , in the second century BCE , the Second Temple was taken over by the Syrians who followed the Greek ways—dressing in Greek robes , speaking the Greek language , reading Greek books , and playing Greek sports . The Syrians put Greek idols in the Second Temple . I made it ! I knew Liat wanted to leave without me but I can’t miss this—there’s so much to see and do . There is no remnant of the First Temple except for an ivory staff , or rod , used by a kohen , a Temple priest , of the time . The staff is exhibited in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem .
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