Approximately 20 years after the Persian king Koresh (Cyrus) issued his proclamation permitting the Jews to return to Israel and rebuild their Bais HaMikdash, Ezra HaSofer led a group of approximately 1,500 Jews back from Bavel to their homeland. Upon his arrival, Ezra was disappointed to find a Jewish community that was heavily intermarried and assimilated. He set about to remedy the situation by introducing far-reaching changes aimed at preserving the Jewish people’s unique identity.

Similar problems confront the Jewish community today. Assimilation and intermarriage rates are at all-time highs. Much of our greater community is threatened with complete assimilation. This webquest will explore many of the underlying challenges facing each of the primary Jewish groups today, and attempt to find ways to address this central problem affecting our entire nation.

Cyrus, King of Persia

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Rabbi Naphtali Hoff  Last updated 10/7/03