Jewish, Hungarian-speaking in Israel

People Name:	Jewish, Hungarian-speaking
Country:	Israel
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	25,000
World Population:	72,000
Primary Language:	Hungarian
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	0.20 %
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

Of the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust of WWII, over one-half million were Jews from Hungary. That represents roughly two-thirds of the Hungarian Jewish population of 1941. Even before WWII, Hungarian Jews were subject to various types of discrimination and persecution. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, most Hungarian-speaking Jews have moved to Israel, the USA or Western Europe.


Hungarian is a disappearing language among the Jews of Israel. Young people prefer to speak Hebrew or English. Many resources, including a compete Bible, are available in Hungarian.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Hungarian Jews are integrated into modern Israeli society. Their young people serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Some Hungarian Jews choose to live in neighborhoods in Israeli cities, where they can keep their Hungarian language and culture. They have their restaurants and cultural centers.


Most of the Hungarian Jews of Israel are cultural rather than religious, observant Jews. They celebrate the Jewish holidays to preserve their traditions and culture.


Hungarian Jews practice monogamy, marriage to one person. They encourage their children to get university degrees and to enter the professions. Hungarian-speaking Jews work in the jewelry trade, retail, engineering, education, and manufacturing.


As powerful as the Israel Defense Forces are, Jews in Israel live under the constant threat of rocket and terrorist attacks.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Judaism is the ancient, monotheistic faith revealed to Moses in the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. Observant Jews try to obey the commands given in the Tanakh, which includes the Torah, the Prophets, and the writings. Christians call these books the Old Testament. The major holidays of Judaism are Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the New Jewish Year, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Religious Jews attend synagogue on Saturdays and practice the Sabbath rest. A tiny group of Hungarian Jews have found their Messiah.

What Are Their Needs?

The Hungarian-speaking Jews of Israel need to understand that Jesus is their Messiah. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life. All their religious works and traditions will not gain God's favor.

Prayer Points

Pray that the Hungarian Jewish people will hear the good news and understand that Jesus is the Messiah. Ask the Lord to soften the hearts of the Jews towards Christians and Christianity so that they might hear and receive the message of salvation. Pray that God will grant Messianic believers in Israel favor as they share their faith in Christ with their people. Pray that strong local churches will be raised up among the Hungarian-speaking Jews of Israel.