Spanish Jewish in Israel


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Ethnic Religions (Judaism)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The word Sephard was the name used by Jews in medieval times for the Iberian Peninsula. Sephardim Jews, then, are the descendants of the Jews who lived in Spain or Portugal prior to expulsion in 1492 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Sephardim also have a distinctive language called Ladino, or Judeo-Spanish. This is a dialect of Castilian Spanish with Hebrew and Turkish elements. Spanish Jews often fled to various parts of the emerging Spanish Empire, while others went to Turkey or Greece.
When considering the Jewish lifestyle, many see Israel as the sparkling jewel on the ring of nations in the Middle East. Having been a minority for almost 2,000 years, the present population of Israel is now mostly Jewish. The stream of immigrants into Israel began in the 1880s with the national and cultural revival known as "Zionism." The trickle of immigrants became a flood when the nation of Israel was established in 1948. Those who went included the Sephardic or Spanish Jews.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Language is one of the distinguishing features among Jews of this region. While Hebrew and Aramaic are the common languages of prayer, sacred and legal matters, the Jews are quite at home with local languages and dialects. Within Israel, Jews may speak fluent Yiddish (a German dialect with Hebrew elements), Russian, Yudi, Ladino, or any number of other languages learned in their countries of origin or from their immigrant parents. Language can sometimes be a hindrance to unifying Israel as one nation.
Most of the Spanish Israeli Jews live in cities. Those who live in rural areas are part of the well-known kibbutzim (collective farms or settlements in Israel).


What Are Their Beliefs?

For religious Jews, God is the Supreme Being, the Creator of the universe, and the ultimate Judge of human affairs. Beyond this, the religious beliefs of the Jewish communities vary greatly. European Jews are extremely diverse in religious practice. The Ashkenazic Jews are the most prevalent, representing the Orthodox, ultra-Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform movements. The unusual and adamantly traditional Hasidic movement was born in Poland and has gained a strong following in the United States and Israel. The Sephardic denomination is like the Orthodox Ashkenazic but is more permissive on dietary rules and some religious practices. Each Jewish denomination maintains synagogues and celebrates the traditional Jewish holiday calendar. That is sometimes true in Israel.


What Are Their Needs?

The Jews have a wonderful understanding of their connection with the Abrahamic covenant. However, they also have a history of rejecting Jesus Christ as Messiah, the one who has fulfilled that covenant. Those whose ancestors fled the Spanish Empire look to “Christians” as their persecutors. That adds another layer of resistance.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth loving Christians to work among the Spanish Jewish people in Israel.
Pray that Spanish Jewish people Israel will understand that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.
Ask the Lord to soften the hearts of Spanish Jews towards Christ followers so that they might hear and receive the message of salvation.
Pray that God will grant Jewish believers favor as they share their faith in Christ with others in Israel.
Pray that strong Jewish background fellowships in Israel that believe in Christ’s redemption.


Scripture Prayers for the Jewish, Spanish in Israel.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Jewish, Spanish
People Name in Country Jewish, Spanish
Natural Name Spanish Jewish
Pronunciation SPAE-nish joo
Alternate Names
Population this Country 47,000
Population all Countries 61,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 19243
ROP3 Code 115653
Country Israel
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Israel
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Map of Jewish, Spanish in Israel
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions (Judaism)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.10 %)
0.30 %
Ethnic Religions
97.70 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
2.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Hebrew
Language Code heb   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Ladino
Primary Language Hebrew
Language Code heb   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Ladino
People Groups Speaking Hebrew

Primary Language:  Hebrew

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1477-2010)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2010)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hebrew Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hebrew YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hebrew New Testament Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Biblical Hebrew Readers General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Lecturas en Hebreo Bíblico (Spanish) General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Leituras em Hebraico Bíblico (Portuguese) General / Other
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Hebrew YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Dan Zelazo - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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