Jewish, English-speaking in United Kingdom

People Name:	Jewish, English-speaking
Country:	United Kingdom
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	288,000
World Population:	5,430,800
Primary Language:	English
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	0.50 %
Evangelicals:	0.10 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Jewish
Affinity Bloc:	Jewish
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The first Jewish people came to England in 1066 when they were invited to come by William the Conqueror. He needed their financial support. The Jewish population began to expand, and the British crown often expected their financial support. Like everywhere else in Europe, the Jewish people sometimes faced violent persecution. Then and now the Jewish people live mainly in London, though they also live in other British cities. The United Kingdom is home to the world’s fifth largest Jewish population.

Some may speak Hebrew, Yiddish or another language at home depending upon their country of origin. Yiddish is especially popular, though most have English as their heart language.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The English speaking Jewish population has faced antisemitic attacks, usually during times when Israel is at war with the nearby Arab peoples. Despite this, the UK is relatively safe, and their Jewish population continues to grow.

Jewish scientists win the Nobel Prize many times above their percentage of the general population. Typically Jewish children attend Jewish schools, most of which are funded by the government. Jewish parents strongly encourage their children to pursue graduate educations. They often find their employment in medicine, law, higher education, science and finance. They are far more likely to be self-employed than the general British population. Politically, English speaking Jewish people are most likely to be part of the Conservative Party though some are part of the Labor Party.

One of the changes today for Judaism is that about one in four British Jews marry outside the faith resulting in children of mixed heritage. This represents a willingness to become integrated with the general population. Conservative rabbis will only marry a mixed couple if the non-Jewish person is willing to convert to Judaism. To be considered a Jew in most Jewish circles, one must present evidence that he or she was born of a Jewish mother.

What Are Their Beliefs?

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. 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.

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.

The Jews living in the UK are diverse population and can classified into at least four major groups. The strictest branch of Judaism is the Orthodox. They believe the Law and Prophets, what Christians call the Old Testament, is the literal, inspired Word of God and still completely binding on their lives today. This branch of Judaism includes the ultra-Orthodox Hasidim, or "pious ones." Orthodox Jews practice the Sabbath (Shabbat), where they refrain from work each Saturday. They are growing faster than other Jewish denominations because they have a higher birth rate.

The liberal or progressive branch of Judaism is called Reformed. They do not believe in the miracles of the Torah and that Judaism must be fully integrated into modern scientific world. The Conservative Jews try to find a moderate, middle path between Orthodoxy and Reformed Judaism.

One final sector of the Jewish population are non-religious or secular Jews. These Jews do not attend synagogue and may go to work on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. These secular Jews may be atheists, agnostics or deists. New Age thinking is increasingly popular among the Jewish peoples of the UK.

All four groups of Jews are represented in the UK. A small but growing group of Jews in the UK call themselves Messianic Jews. These Jews have accepted Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah. Orthodox and many Conservative Jews deem them as no longer Jews.

What Are Their Needs?

The Jews 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 Jesus as Messiah are frequently led into the kingdom of God by Christ followers who model the love of Christ to them.

Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send believers to build friendships with Jews of the UK and demonstrate God's love to them.
Pray that God raises up a Messianic disciple making movement among the Jews of the UK.
Pray that more and more Jews in the UK 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.