Jewish, Indonesian in Indonesia

Introduction / History

Very few (if any) Indonesian-speaking Jews remain in Indonesia. This population may be composed of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe.

The Jews of Europe arrived on the continent at least 2,000 years ago during the early days of the Roman empire. Since then, they have been a significant influence in the history and culture of Europe. Much of what is considered "Jewish" today finds its roots among the European Jews.

European Jews distinguish between the Ashkenazic Jews and the Sephardic Jews. The word Ashkenaz is derived from a Biblical word for the larger Germanic region of Europe. Therefore, Ashkenazim Jews are those whose ancestry is linked to that area. This group traditionally speaks the Yiddish language, which is a German dialect that has Hebrew and Slavic elements.

"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.

As a general rule, when Jewish people emigrated to other countries, they adopted the local language. In the case of Indonesia, they adopted Bahasa (Indonesian).

What Are Their Lives Like?

There are so few Indonesian speaking Jewish people that we are not sure if they are even in Indonesia any longer.

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 resembles the Orthodox Ashkenazic but allows more variance on dietary rules and some religious practices. Each Jewish denomination maintains synagogues and celebrates the traditional Jewish holiday calendar. While most European Jews are religiously affiliated, a significant minority do not practice any religion.

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. Because of the silence of much of the Church in Europe during the Holocaust, many Jews may distrust Christians.

Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth loving Christ followers to work among Indonesia s Jewish communities.
Ask the Lord to soften the hearts of the Jews towards Christians so that they might hear and receive the message of salvation.
Pray for a movement of multiplying local bodies of believers in the Indonesian Jewish community.

Text Source:   Joshua Project