Introduction

The long secret history of Judaism, part 2, second temple Judaism. The Jews had their temple destroyed by invading neo-Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II after the siege of Jerusalem in 587 BCE. After this time, some Jews were able to return to their ancestral lands under the rule of the Akimanid Persians who conquered the neo-babylonians. They rebuilt the temple and they resumed business as usual again. In the second temple period, we see Judaism come to be Judaism. It split into many sects and groups, which we shall be talking about in this episode and episodes to come.