Kurdistani Jewish in Israel
kur-dis-TAH-nee joo

They are Kurdistani, meaning they are Kurds, a predominantly Muslim people. Yet they are also Jewish! For hundreds of years, Kurdistani Jewish people lived in several countries. Through a series of airlifts between 1949-1952, 120,000 Kurdistani Jews (mainly from Iraq) moved to Israel. Most today identify as Israeli and have adopted Hebrew as their primary language. The largest concentration of Kurdish Jews lives in the Katamonim neighborhood in south Jerusalem, where they have their own synagogues and schools. Currently, there are over thirty agricultural settlements that Kurdistani Jewish people have started, though many also have urban jobs.

Ministry Obstacles
Although they acknowledge their Jewish identity, many Kurdish-Israelis are by nature secular. The younger generation is more concerned with education, career, and financial success than with spiritual matters.

Scripture Focus
"Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;"  Psalm 146:6

Scripture Prayer
Pray that God’s wonderous works of creation will draw many from this people group to the Throne of Grace.

Prayer Focus
Ask God to send messianic believers to present God's word to them through the understanding of their Messiah Jesus, who was Jewish and fulfilled the prophecies regarding salvation. Pray for Kurdish Jews to find shalom in a relationship with Jesus. Pray the gospel will reach the Kurdish Jewish people in Israel through Christian radio, friendships, music, and Messianic Jewish believers. Pray that these people will be open to asking questions related to the gospel through caring followers of Yeshua.

Presented by Joshua Project
www.joshuaproject.net