Jewish, Spanish in Israel

Introduction / History

The word 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. Spanish Jews often fled to various parts of the emerging Spanish Empire, while others went to Turkey or Greece.
When considering the Jewish lifestyle, many see Israel as the sparkling jewel on the ring of nations in the Middle East. Having been a minority for almost 2,000 years, the present population of Israel is now mostly Jewish. The stream of immigrants into Israel began in the 1880s with the national and cultural revival known as "Zionism." The trickle of immigrants became a flood when the nation of Israel was established in 1948. Those who went included the Sephardic or Spanish Jews.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Language is one of the distinguishing features among Jews of this region. While Hebrew and Aramaic are the common languages of prayer, sacred and legal matters, the Jews are quite at home with local languages and dialects. Within Israel, Jews may speak fluent Yiddish (a German dialect with Hebrew elements), Russian, Yudi, Ladino, or any number of other languages learned in their countries of origin or from their immigrant parents. Language can sometimes be a hindrance to unifying Israel as one nation.
Most of the Spanish Israeli Jews live in cities. Those who live in rural areas are part of the well-known kibbutzim (collective farms or settlements in Israel).

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 is like the Orthodox Ashkenazic but is more permissive on dietary rules and some religious practices. Each Jewish denomination maintains synagogues and celebrates the traditional Jewish holiday calendar. That is sometimes true in Israel.

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. Those whose ancestors fled the Spanish Empire look to “Christians” as their persecutors. That adds another layer of resistance.

Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth loving Christians to work among the Spanish Jewish people in Israel.
Pray that Spanish Jewish people Israel will understand that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.
Ask the Lord to soften the hearts of Spanish Jews towards Christ followers 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 others in Israel.
Pray that strong Jewish background fellowships in Israel that believe in Christ’s redemption.

Text Source:   Joshua Project