Eastern Yiddish-speaking Jewish in United States


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Subgroups: 10

Subgroup Name Population
Satmar Jewish 159,000
Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish 42,000
Bobover Jewish 24,000
Vizhnitz Jewish 21,000
Skver Jewish 18,000
Belzer Jewish 13,000
Pupa Jewish 9,400
Gerer Jewish 8,800
Sanzer Jewish 8,300
Breslov Jewish 5,000

Introduction / History

The Eastern Yiddish-speaking Jewish immigrants to the United States came in the late 1800s from Central and Eastern Europe where they were facing waves of persecution. Yiddish is a German dialect with Hebrew elements. This was the lingua franca of those with a European heritage. Today the number of Americans who speak Yiddish at home is quickly dropping.

Because of the uniqueness of their history and culture, all Jewish people have a strong sense of identity. Persecution of and discrimination against them in places like Russia, Germany, and Poland have been the historical reasons for their migrations to the United States. It was common in Europe for them to not be allowed to own land, so instead of being farmers, they moved to cities where they thrived economically.


Where Are they Located?

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, though there are sizeable populations of Yiddish-speaking people in New Jersey, Florida, and California. Many Yiddish speakers live in Maryland, Connecticut, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Arizona. Within these states, it would be safe to say that Yiddish speakers gravitate to the larger cities.


What Are Their Lives Like?

While maintaining a Jewish identity, the majority of North American Jews conform to the mainstream American culture. They are successful in urban professions like running businesses, accounting, etc.

Socially, Yiddish speaking Jewish people tend to stick with others of their ethnic and religious groups. Many of them are part of one of the many Hassidic Jewish communities, which have little contact with one another.

It is very hard for followers of Christ to reach them even though Yiddish speakers are usually as fluent in English as any other American.


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?

"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. Their spirituality is tightly wrapped up in their ethnicity rather than in the God of the Universe. Hebrew is the religious language of prayer for Hassidic Jews, many of whom have a Yiddish-language background.


What Are Their Needs?

There are many resources that point the way to Jesus Christ. It is very difficult for Yiddish speaking Jews, whose ancestors were persecuted by "Christians," to give a fair hearing to the claims of Christ. Someone needs to go them as Christ's ambassador.


Prayer Points

Pray that Jewish people in the United States will embrace Jesus as their Messiah.
Pray for a massive spiritual breakthrough among the Yiddish-speaking Jewish communities in the United States. Pray that they will crave true spirituality that only comes from the Savior.


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


References

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/09/yiddish-has-a-problem/379658/
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/nyregion/a-villages-name-sounds-english-but-the-voices-there-are-yiddish.html?_r=0
https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/4jfzyr/yiddish_speakers_in_the_us_959x593/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yiddish
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/ydd


Profile Source:   Global Prayer Digest  

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 360,000
Population all Countries 785,000
Total Countries 12
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 7
People ID 12350
ROP3 Code 104247
ROP25 Code 303368
ROP25 Name Jewish
Affinity Bloc Jewish
People Cluster Jewish
People Group Jewish, Eastern Yiddish-speaking
Ethnic Code CMT35
Total Subgroups 10
  Satmar Jewish 159,000
  Chabad-Lubavitch Jew 42,000
  Bobover Jewish 24,000
  Vizhnitz Jewish 21,000
  Skver Jewish 18,000
  Belzer Jewish 13,000
  Pupa Jewish 9,400
  Gerer Jewish 8,800
  Sanzer Jewish 8,300
  Breslov Jewish 5,000
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Scattered with concentrations in major urban centers.   Source:  Ethnologue 2020
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Scattered with concentrations in major urban centers..   Source:  Ethnologue 2020

No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.



Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Religion Subdivision: Judaism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.01 %)
0.01 %
Ethnic Religions
86.99 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
13.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Yiddish, Eastern (360,000 speakers)
Language Code ydd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Yiddish, Eastern (360,000 speakers)
Language Code ydd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Yiddish, Eastern
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  paul prescott - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Global Prayer Digest 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024