Eastern Yiddish-speaking Jewish in Kazakhstan


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

Introduction / History

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 with Hebrew and Slavic elements. Yiddish, the language of the Ashkenaz, has two major dialects as well as smaller ones. Western Yiddish is the language of those who have some roots in Germany and Central Europe. Eastern Yiddish is the language of Russia, and Eastern European countries like Poland, Estonia, Lithuania Moldova, etc.


In the 1800s, some of these Eastern Yiddish speaking Jews fled Russian persecution hoping for a safe haven in Kazakhstan. In the 1930s, more of them fled to Kazakhstan from Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's excesses. Others came there during WWII to flee the fighting. They built their own community but worshipped the Lord at home rather than at synagogues.


Kazakhstan's Jewish population is usually either in Almaty or Astana.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today there are a couple of small Jewish communities in Kazakhstan. Among them are the Eastern Yiddish speakers. They have 20 Jewish organizations. These include day schools and youth centers where teenagers can learn about their Jewish heritage. They have programs for summer camps, elder care and food distribution.


There is very little anti-Semitism in Kazakhstan, a Muslim nation with a surprising amount of religious tolerance. Jewish teachers instruct from the Torah and help keep the kosher tradition alive in this Central Asian country. These teachers are from the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic sect in Brooklyn, New York. Kazakhstan has good relations with Israel, a nation that has helped them improve their irrigation systems.


Because of the uniqueness of their history and culture, Yiddish-speaking Jews have a strong sense of identity. Persecution of and discrimination against the Jews have been the historical reasons for their migrations and settlements in other parts of the w
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 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 God reveals the Jewish Law. 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.


Many Jewish people keep cultural Judaism, but they have rejected the spiritual elements taught in the Old Testament. They might take part in cultural events and even religious ceremonies, but they are secular or New Age in their spiritual lives.


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 has 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 Holy Spirit to give the Eastern Yiddish speaking Jews in Kazakhstan teachable and understanding hearts.


Pray that a strong movement of the Holy Spirit will bring entire Yiddish speaking families into a rich experience of God's blessing.


Pray for Jewish families to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness, and to understand the adequacy of Christ's work on the cross.


Pray for teams of believers to do sustained, focused prayer for the Lord to open the hearts of Yiddish speaking family leaders to experience God's blessing through a movement of family-based discovery Bible studies.


Scripture Prayers for the Jewish, Eastern Yiddish-speaking in Kazakhstan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Jewish, Eastern Yiddish-speaking
People Name in Country Jewish, Eastern Yiddish-speaking
Natural Name Eastern Yiddish-speaking Jewish
Pronunciation YIH-dish joo
Alternate Names Jew, Yiddish-Speaking; Jewish; Yiddish Jewish
Population this Country 2,500
Population all Countries 794,000
Total Countries 12
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 12350
ROP3 Code 104247
Country Kazakhstan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 47  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Country Kazakhstan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 47  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions (Judaism)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
70.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
30.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Russian
Language Code rus   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Kazakh
Primary Language Russian
Language Code rus   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Kazakh
People Groups Speaking Russian

Primary Language:  Russian

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1815-1993)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1821-1991)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1875-2023)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
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Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Russian Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
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 General Ministry Resources General / Other
General Open-licensed Bible stories on mobile app Distant Shores
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Central Asia) Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
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: Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: CARS (uses Allah) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: CARS for Tajikistan General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gospel of John (Russian for Central Asia) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Holy Scriptures (CARS) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Russian YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Selections from the Holy Scriptures (Allah) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Библия для детей - Russian Children's Bible Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App Android Bible app: РСП Библия Bible League
Mobile App Android Bible app: Святая Библия, Новый русский перевод (New Russian Translation) Biblica
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
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: Russian YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Библия для детей - (Childrens Bible in Russian) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Библия Онлайн General / Other
Mobile App iOS Bible app: РСП Библия Bible League
Text / Printed Matter Bible Gateway scripture Bible Gateway
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Cartoon Gospel tract General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Christ for the Nations General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Russian Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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