Swedish Jewish in Sweden

The Swedish Jewish have only been reported in Sweden
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Jews have been living in Sweden since the 16th century. It was not until the late 18th century when the Swedish government allowed Jews to be in the country legally without converting to Christianity. For many years, Jews could live in only three Swedish cities and work in certain professions. The Swedish government did not lift all the laws against Jews until after WWII. Since Sweden was a neutral country in WWII, they did not subject Jews to arrest and deportation to the death camps. Danish citizens risked their lives in helping Jews leave Denmark and reach neutral Sweden.


The Jews now living in Sweden are descendants of refugees and Holocaust survivors. The Jewish population of Sweden is declining about 5% a year. Swedish Jews are moving to Israel, the USA, the UK, Australia, and Canada. Jewish leaders in the third largest city in Sweden, Malmo, tell Jews to leave the city because of the increasing violence against Jews by Muslims and far right extremists.


A tiny group of Jews in Sweden are Messianic. Most of Sweden's Jewish population live in Stockholm. There are smaller groups of them in Malmö, Goteborg, Boras, Helsingborg, Lund, and Uppsala.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Only a small elderly portion of the Swedish Jews can speak Yiddish. The large majority of Jews speak Swedish at home and are fluent in English. Many Jews do not want to stand out from the regular Swedes for fear of attacks.


Jewish parents encourage their children to get college degrees and enter the professions. Jews work in universities, medicine, science, finance, law, and journalism. Many own businesses and retail stores. About one third of the Swedish Jews attend synagogue regularly. Most Jews celebrate the Jewish holidays and appreciate their unique culture and heritage.


They have built both orthodox and conservative synagogues and most practice their faith.
What Are Their Beliefs?

For religious Jews, God is the Supreme Being, the Creator of the universe, and the ultimate Judge of human affairs. God revealed himself to Moses in the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. Beyond this, the religious beliefs of the Jewish communities vary. Swedish Jews are diverse. Each Jewish denomination maintains synagogues and celebrates the traditional Jewish holiday calendar.


While most European Jews are religiously affiliated, there is a significant minority which is not religious. Many Jewish people today keep cultural Judaism, but they have rejected the spiritual elements taught in the Old Testament. They might take part in cultural events and even religious ceremonies, but they are secular or New Age in their spiritual lives.


What Are Their Needs?

Jews in Sweden need to hear the message about their Messiah, Yeshua. They must come to understand that Jesus alone can forgive their sins and give meaning and hope. Swedish Christ followers can share the love of Christ with Jewish friends.


Prayer Points

Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to the mission agencies that are focusing on the Jews in Europe.


Pray that the Jewish people will understand that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.


Pray that God will grant the small group of Messianic believers favor as they share their faith with Swedish Jews.


Pray that there will be strong local fellowships within each Jewish community in Sweden.


Scripture Prayers for the Jewish, Swedish in Sweden.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Jewish, Swedish-speaking
People Name in Country Jewish, Swedish
Natural Name Swedish Jewish
Pronunciation SWEE-dish joo
Alternate Names
Population this Country 15,000
Population all Countries 15,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 19246
ROP3 Code 115656
ROP25 Code 303368
ROP25 Name Jewish
Country Sweden
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Widespread. Göta dialect: south, including parts of Småland, Värmland, Västergötland, parts of Östergötland, Bohuslän and Dalsland; Svea dialect: central, including Västmanland, Södermanland, Gästrikland, Dalarna, south Hälsingland, parts of Östergötland and Uppland; Southern Swedish: Skåne, Blekinge, south Småland, south Halland; Northern Swedish: north Hälsingland and north; Jamska: mainly Jämtland; Eastern Swedish: Finland, Estonia, and Gammalsvenskby, Ukraine; Gutniska: Isle of Gotland and Fårö; Elfdalian dialect: northern Dalarna, southeastern Älvdalen municipality.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Sweden
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Widespread. Göta dialect: south, including parts of Småland, Värmland, Västergötland, parts of Östergötland, Bohuslän and Dalsland; Svea dialect: central, including Västmanland, Södermanland, Gästrikland, Dalarna, south Hälsingland, parts of Östergötland and Uppland; Southern Swedish: Skåne, Blekinge, south Småland, south Halland; Northern Swedish: north Hälsingland and north; Jamska: mainly Jämtland; Eastern Swedish: Finland, Estonia, and Gammalsvenskby, Ukraine; Gutniska: Isle of Gotland and Fårö; Elfdalian dialect: northern Dalarna, southeastern Älvdalen municipality..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Jewish, Swedish in Sweden
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Religion Subdivision: Judaism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.10 %)
0.30 %
Ethnic Religions
80.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
19.70 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Swedish
Language Code swe   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Yiddish, Eastern
Primary Language Swedish
Language Code swe   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Yiddish, Eastern
People Groups Speaking Swedish

Primary Language:  Swedish

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1523-1991)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1526-1996)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1541-2023)
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
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Swedish 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 Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Swedish YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Swedish YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible Gateway scripture Bible Gateway
Text / Printed Matter Cartoon Gospel tract General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Photo Source Wikimedia Images - Pixabay 
Map Source People Group location: World Jewish Congress, Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024