English-speaking Jewish in South Africa


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Ethnic Religions (Judaism)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The immigration of Jews into South Africa (RSA) began in the early 1800s when they were given freedom of religious expression. Jews established the first Hebrew congregation in Cape Town in 1841.


Jewish people played an important part in the development of South African trade and industry. They were among the pioneers in the Transvaal region when people discovered diamonds and gold. In 1886 there was a gold rush which attracted more Jewish people from the United Kingdom. Most of today's Jewish population in South Africa are the descendants of immigrants from Lithuania and Latvia who arrived in the early 1900s. The largest Jewish population in the RSA is centered in Johannesburg.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The English-speaking Jews of South Africa are affluent and well educated. The welfare of its aging population is a chief concern, so major efforts have been made in establishing welfare organizations and building retirement homes. Education is the key to building the Jewish identity into the younger generation. Most of the Jewish youth are in comprehensive Jewish day schools. Most of the schools are Orthodox, but several are ultra-Orthodox. Jewish museums, libraries, and periodicals are also important tools that reinforce the community's identity.


The Jewish people in the RSA are often involved with business. The Jewish and Muslim communities in the RSA get along well, and they have frequent business dealings. However, that can easily change if there is a conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.


English-speaking Jewish people in the RSA often emigrate either for Israel or for another English-speaking country. Half of the Jewish population in the RSA left during the turbulent days of ethnic conflict in the 1950s through the 1970s. This process continues.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Jewish population in the RSA is marginally Orthodox. 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. Orthodox Jews generally follow the traditional religious beliefs and practices found in the Jewish literature that interprets Scripture regarding ethical, religious, civil, and criminal matters.


Reform Jews do not believe that the Jewish Law is divinely revealed. They are not restricted to kosher foods. They neither wear the skullcap (yarmulke) when praying nor use Hebrew in prayer. All religious Jews believe in the coming of a Messianic Age, but only the Orthodox Jews look for a personal Messiah.


Often Jewish people hold to their cultural practices and participate in festivities, but they do not adhere to Jewish spirituality. Such people can be secular or dabble in New Age practices.


What Are Their Needs?

Jewish people 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 fulfilled that covenant. They tend to view Christianity as the religion of their oppressors rather than the fulfillment of what God promised all of humanity through Abraham centuries ago.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to give the Jewish people in the RSA hearts that will want to please him. May they look to the Lord for guidance and truth, and not be satisfied with cultural traditions.


Pray for Jewish people in the RSA to begin a movement to Jesus Christ, finding ways to exalt him while honoring their culture.


Pray for the Lord to move among Jewish leaders in the RSA to open the doors to Christ's ambassadors.


Scripture Prayers for the Jewish, English-speaking in South Africa.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Jewish, English-speaking
People Name in Country Jewish, English-speaking
Natural Name English-speaking Jewish
Pronunciation joo
Alternate Names Azx; Bene Israel; Bukharic Jew; Central Asian Jew; Hasidim; Jew, Persian; Jewish; Jews; Judeo-German; Judeo-Persian; Shanvar Teli; Spanish Jew; Yahudan; Yahudi; Yudan
Population this Country 52,000
Population all Countries 5,431,000
Total Countries 13
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 12347
ROP3 Code 117322
Country South Africa
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country South Africa
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions (Judaism)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.10 %)
0.50 %
Ethnic Religions
84.50 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
15.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language English
Language Code eng   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Yiddish, Eastern
Primary Language English
Language Code eng   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Yiddish, Eastern
People Groups Speaking English

Primary Language:  English

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1530-1995)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1380-2011)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1382-2020)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Amazon
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Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
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Film / Video Jesus Film: view in English Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
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Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
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Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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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
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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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
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General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
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General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
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Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
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Mobile App Android Bible app: EasyEnglish Bible General / Other
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Mobile App Android Bible app: English YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: English Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: ERV Bible Bible League
Mobile App Android Bible app: ERV Bible (UK) Bible League
Mobile App Android Bible app: her.BIBLE Women's Audio Bible Cru
Mobile App Android Bible app: John - EasyEnglish Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Plain English Version Bible Vernacular Scriptures Australia
Mobile App Android Bible app: Ruth - EasyEnglish Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: The Bible for the Deaf Bible Society of South Africa
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Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Bible Story Handbook Shalom Design S2dio
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Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Kande Story - living with HIV Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: LTMP Bible app (Light To My Path) General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: My Talking Bible Stories General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: My Talking Library General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Open Bible Stories (English) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Prayers of a Godly Husband General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Prayers of a Wise Parent General / Other
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Mobile App Android Book Reading app: The Way of Righteousness - Part 1 Rock International
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Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
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Mobile App iOS Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App iOS Bible app: English YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: ERV Bible Bible League
Mobile App iOS Bible app: ERV Bible (UK) Bible League
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Grow In Wisdom Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: her.BIBLE Women's Audio Bible Cru
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter EasyBibles General / Other
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Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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