The Makor Project · K–5 Lesson · Handout A

Build a Timeline

Where Did the Synagogue Come From? · Grades 3–5

How to do this activity

  1. Cut out the nine event cards below along the dashed lines.
  2. Read each card. Look for the date at the top.
  3. About the dates: BCE means "before the year 1" — the bigger the BCE number, the longer ago it was. CE dates come after, and count up the normal way. So 957 BCE is older than 586 BCE, and both come before 70 CE.
  4. Arrange the cards in order from oldest to newest.
  5. Write the letter of each card into the boxes at the bottom of this page.
  6. Color the cards in any way you like!
A. About 957 BCE
King Solomon builds the First Temple
Jewish tradition tells that King Solomon builds a great stone Temple in the city of Jerusalem. It stands on a high stone platform.
B. 586 BCE
The Babylonians destroy the First Temple
The Babylonian army attacks Jerusalem. They knock down the walls and burn the Temple. Many Jewish families are taken away to live in Babylon.
C. About 550 BCE
The first synagogues
Jewish families in Babylon start meeting in small groups in any place they can find — a "house of meeting." This is the beginning of the synagogue.
D. 516 BCE
The Second Temple is built
Many Jewish people return to Jerusalem. They rebuild the Temple on the same stone platform. Synagogues continue to be used at the same time.
E. 70 CE
The Romans destroy the Second Temple
The Roman Empire attacks Jerusalem and destroys the Temple. The Temple has not been rebuilt since. Synagogues become the heart of Jewish life.
F. 1270
Altneuschul, Prague
Jewish families build the "Old-New Synagogue" in Prague. People are still praying in it today, more than 750 years later.
G. 1763
Touro Synagogue, Newport
Jewish families build a synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island. It is the oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States.
H. 1887
Eldridge Street Synagogue, New York
As many Jewish families arrive in America, they build a large, beautiful synagogue in New York City. It still stands today and welcomes visitors.
I. Today
Synagogues everywhere
Synagogues exist in every country where Jewish people live. Probably one is in your town or a town near you!

★ Write the letters in order, from oldest (1) to newest (9):

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9