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The History of the Jewish Return to Israel
For the past 2,000 years, Jews had the religious concept of waiting for the Messiah to be brought back to the Land of Israel. The Jewish kingdom in Israel and Palestinian territories existed 3,000 years ago but was conquered by a neighboring empire in 586 BCE, leading to Jewish displacement. The Persians, particularly King Cyrus, helped free the Jews from bondage and assisted in rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. The Roman Empire took over in 70 BCE, exiling most Jews to various regions. Despite being a dream for many centuries, the idea of returning to Israel gained traction when secular Zionists in the 19th century transformed it from a religious to a secular state concept.