Introduction / History

Of the world's 15 million Jews under one thousand live in the tiny nation of Monaco. Monaco has a land area of only 499 acres and is located on the French Mediterranean coast. Monaco is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and the Jews share in that wealth. Tourism and banking are the primary industries. The per capita income in Monaco is $165,420 per year. The primary language of the Jews of Monaco is French. Some may speak Hebrew, Yiddish, Italian or another language at home depending upon their country of origin. Most Jews in Monaco also speak English.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Jewish parents strongly encourage their children to pursue graduate educations. Jews often find their employment in medicine, law, higher education, science, and finance. Jewish scientists win the Nobel Prize many times above their percentage of the general population. One of the issues today for Judaism is that many Jews marry outside the faith resulting in children of mixed heritage. Conservative rabbis will only marry a mixed couple if the non-Jewish person is willing to convert to Judaism. Accordingly, to be considered a Jew in most Jewish circles, one must present evidence that he or she was born of a Jewish mother. At the age of 13, the Bar Mitzvah ceremony for a boy (or Bat Mitzvah for a girl) is an important rite of passage, which marks him or her as an adult member of the community. While these ceremonies were more spiritually focused in the past, they have become equally important as social events. Judaism is a non-evangelistic religion. The Jews do not seek converts. A Non-Jew or Gentile can become a Jew only through a time of prolonged study and commitment.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Traditional Jews see Abraham as the father of their faith and Moses as the great lawgiver. The Law or Torah, the Prophets and the Writings make up the Jewish holy scriptures. Judaism is a moral, fiercely monotheistic religion. One obtains favor with God by obeying the laws found in the Scriptures. The writings of the Rabbis, the Talmud, are seen as an essential guide to knowing and following the commands of God. The two main holy days of the Jews are the Passover which celebrates the Jews leaving Egypt under the leadership of Moses and the Day of Atonement in which Jews fast, pray and confess their sins. The Jewish Shabbat runs from Friday at sunset until sunset on Saturday. Religious Jews use the time to attend synagogue and to spend time with their families. Jews are known their philanthropic work and helping the less fortunate.

What Are Their Needs?

The Jews of Monaco need to see that their good works can never get them right with God. The only way that God forgives sins is through death and resurrection of His Son Jesus. The Jews who accept their Jesus as Messiah are frequently led into the kingdom of God by Christians who model the love of Christ to them. The Jews of Monaco are wealthy and are proud of their cultural traditions. Pride can prevent people from seeing themselves are sinners in need of the Savior.

Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send believers to build friendships with Jews of Monaco and demonstrate God's love to them. Pray that God raises up a Messianic disciple making movement among the Jews of Monaco. Pray that more and more Jews in Monaco would be willing to investigate the claims of Jesus Christ. Pray that God would open the spiritual eyes of the Jews as they read and study the Old Testament.

Scripture Prayers for the Jewish, French in Monaco.