Timeline

Sephardic Jews probably originally came to the Iberian Peninsula during the Roman Era.

Muslims controlled most of Iberia.  Although some Muslim leaders persecuted the Jews, others allowed them to thrive and some grew wealthy in money and learning.

First Jewish settlements in England.

Catholics reconquered much of Iberia, but fighting between Muslims and Catholics remained fierce.  Jews were no longer so safe, and were often caught between Catholics and Muslims and began to be persecuted by both.

Two Catholic monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand married and united two major parts of the Peninsula and created the Kingdom of Spain.

Conversos accompany Hernán Cortés to the Valley of Mexico in New Spain.

Mexican Inquisition officially established.

Forty-six conversos were brought before the Inquisition in New Spain. Several members of the Carvajal family were persecuted in an auto-da-fé, including Luis de Carvajal “El Mozo” (The Young), one of the spiritual leaders of the crypto-Jews in New Spain.

Conversos given permission to leave Spain and Portugal.

Execution of Mariana de Carabajal, daughter of Francisca Nuñez de Carabajal, in New Spain.

Official permission granted to Jews to settle in Amsterdam

Jews granted right to build a synagogue in Amsterdam

Beit Haim Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, Netherlands opened

Ets Haim Yeshiva Founded in Amsterdam

Talmud Torah Synagogue, Amsterdam

Dutch found the Colony of New Netherlands (later New York)

Dutch take Recife

Menasseh ben Israel founds press, prints Hebrew prayer book (Amsterdam)

First Jews settle in Recife

First Converso in Curaçao

First Ashkenazi Synagogue service, Amsterdam

Kahal Kadosh Zur Israel Synagogue and mikveh, Recife

Jews settle in Suriname

Rabbis Isaac Aboab da Fonseca and Moses Raphael de Aguilar go to Recife.

On April 11, crypto-Jew Tomas Trevino de Sobremonte was burned at the stake in Mexico City. He was one of 35 people who were prosecuted that day. Eight were executed.

Menasseh ben Israel, Mikveh Yisrael (Amsterdam)

Congregation Mikvé Israel established in Curaçao

Recife recaptured by Portuguese. Jewish residents disperse including 23 to New Amsterdam

Nidhe Israel Synagogue and mikveh, Barbados

Puritan Oliver Cromwell legally allows Jews to return to England.

Chatham Square Cemetery, New Amsterdam

Creechurch Lane Synagogue, London

1658 Fifteen Jewish families from the Dutch West Indies arrive in Newport, RI

Beit Haim Blenheim, Curaçao

Jews come to St. Eustatius

British take New Amsterdam. Renamed New York.

King Charles II grants statement of toleration to Jews

Great Plague, London

Reports of Sabbatai Zevi as messiah sweep Europe

Sabbatai Zevi, whom many thought was the Jewish messiah, converts to Islam.

Great Fire of London

Suriname passes to the Dutch, Jews granted equality

Great Synagogue (Ashkenazi) and mikveh, Amsterdam

Governor of Jamaica rejects petition to expel the Jews

The Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam, also known as the Esnoga completed. Largest Synagogue in world at time.

Jewish Cemetery, Newport

54 Jewish households in Bridgetown. Jews make up 2.5% of white population, Barbados

Beit Haim Jodensavanne, Suriname

Bracha ve-Shalom Synagogue, Jodensavanne, Suriname.

Port Royal Earthquake, Jamaica; Jewish Community moves to Spanish Town, Kingston, Montego Bay.

First Beit Haim Spanish Town, Jamaica

Amsterdam Haggadah

London community Kahal Sahar Asamaim builds the beautiful Bevis Marks Synagogue.

Rebecca Gratz born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

In 1787, at the age of thirteen, Richea Gratz becomes the first Jewish woman to attend college in America.