English-speaking Jewish in United States


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Ethnic Religions (Judaism)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
More extensive map at peoplegroups.info

Introduction / History

Jews represent the oldest monotheistic religion of modern times. Because of the uniqueness of their history and culture, all Jews have a strong sense of identity. Persecution of and discrimination against the Jews have been the historical reasons for their migrations and settlements around the world.

Although they do share a common culture and religion, the Jews of North and South America have very distinctive lifestyles. The South American Jewish communities began as Conversos (Jews forced to convert to Catholicism) who accompanied early Spanish and Portuguese explorers. However, most of the Jewish immigrants to the Americas came in the late 1800s from Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Middle East. While most of them speak either English or Spanish, other distinctive Jewish dialects are also still used. Yiddish, a German dialect with Hebrew elements, is the lingua franca of those with a European heritage, while Ladino, a blend of Spanish and Hebrew, is often used by those of Spanish descent. Hebrew is the religious language of prayer for the more orthodox Jews.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In North America, most Jews live in urban areas on the east or west coasts. New York City has the largest Jewish population in North America, with over a half million Hassidic Jews alone. In South America, they also live in cities, but keep themselves as a distinct religious and ethnic minority.

While maintaining a Jewish identity, the majority of North American Jews conform to the mainstream American culture. "Jewishness" is often defined in more secular terms such as the use of Yiddish words and family traditions, rather than in religious aspects, such as the following of Jewish laws regarding dietary restrictions.

Not all Jews are religious. Some understand their "Jewishness" only as a social and cultural identity. Understanding what it means to be a Jew begins in childhood. It takes place in the home through storytelling and by taking part in Jewish rituals and festivals such as Rosh Hashanah (New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Passover. Socialization also takes place through participation in Hebrew school or synagogue youth groups.

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.

Marriage and family relationships among Jews are much the same as other Americans. While Jewish families have fewer children, they are child-oriented, indulgent, and permissive. Although wives generally take on their husbands' surnames, Jewish identity is traced through the mothers. That is, if one's mother is a Jew, then he is, according to Jewish law, Jewish. He or she is entitled to all the rights and privileges that status brings, including the right to immigrate to Israel and settle there as a citizen.

The Jews of North and South America work in various trades and professions. They are very well represented in small and middle-sized businesses, the communication and entertainment industries, medicine, law, and accounting. In South America, Jewish executives have been extremely successful. However, the more successful the Jewish executive in South America becomes, the greater tendency he may have to be assimilated into the Christian European society.


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. 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. Conservative Judaism is less traditional than Orthodox and combines different ethical, philosophical, and spiritual schools of thought. Reform Judaism is the most liberal form and interprets Jewish beliefs and practices in light of contemporary life and thought. Reform Jews do not believe that the Jewish Law is divinely revealed. They are not restricted to kosher (traditional, approved) foods, nor do they wear the skull cap (yarmulke) when praying or use Hebrew in prayer. All religious Jews believe in the coming of a Messianic Age, but only the Orthodox Jew looks for a personal Messiah.


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. Pray that as the Gospel is shared, it will not be viewed as anti-Semitic, but rather as the fulfillment of what God promised humanity through Abraham centuries ago.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth loving Christians to work among the Jewish communities.
Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to the missions agencies that are focusing on the Jews of North and South America.
Pray that the Jewish people will understand that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.
Ask the Lord to soften the hearts of the Jews towards Christians so that they might hear and receive the message of salvation.
Pray that God will grant Jewish believers favor as they share their faith in Christ with their own people.
Pray that strong local churches will be raised up in each Jewish community.


Scripture Prayers for the Jewish, English-speaking in United States.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

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 4,620,000
Population all Countries 5,431,000
Total Countries 13
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 92
PeopleID3 12347
ROP3 Code 117322
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions (Judaism)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.60 %)
2.70 %
Ethnic Religions
82.30 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
15.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language English (4,620,000 speakers)
Language Code eng   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language English (4,620,000 speakers)
Language Code eng   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
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
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in English Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
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
Film / Video Walking with Jesus video Jesus Film Project
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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
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
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
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
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Biblica Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: EasyEnglish Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: EasyEnglish Bible - New Testament General / Other
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
Mobile App Android Bible app: The NET Bible® Scripture Earth
Mobile App Android Bible app: The Pastors Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Translation for Translators Wycliffe Bible Translators
Mobile App Android Bible app: UnfoldingWord Literal Text Bible (English) Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Android Bible app: UnfoldingWord Simplified Text Bible (English) Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Rafa Bible Radio English General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Actified General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Bible Story Handbook Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Community Transformation Handbook Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Grace Ministries Books Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: JM English: Jesus Messiah General / Other
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
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Prayers of an Excellent Wife General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Praying the Light General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: The Way of Righteousness - Part 1 Rock International
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: The Way of Righteousness - Part 2 Rock International
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
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
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  blvdone - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Bryan Nicholson / cartoMission  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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