Romanian Jewish in Romania


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Jewish people have lived in Romania since the days of the Roman Empire. They were later joined by Polish and Spanish Jewish people, both of whom arrived during the Renaissance, the latter as refugees from Catholic Spain in 1496. More Jewish people came in the 1800s from the east. Others are from Italy, Greece and the Middle East. As time went on, the Romanian Jewish community became a blend of all of these Jewish communities.


Until WWI, not all Romanian-born Jewish people were citizens. Between the wars, they were denied jobs and a university education. During WWII, they suffered loss of property and lives even as the Romanian government sought to protect them from deportation. Since the war, there has been an outmigration. Today, some remain in the cities of Bucharest, Iasi, Cluj and Oradea.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Jewish emigration from Romania is cause for concern among the remaining aged Jewish population. As the older Jews die, the Jewish community dwindles. Many of the younger Jews have not embrace their Jewish identity. They are either non-observant or have assimilated into the Romanian culture. There is a Federation of Jewish Communities that publishes a newspaper. In Bucharest, the capital, there is a Yiddish theater and a Chabad House. Indeed, Romania was where Yiddish theater began.


Many of the younger Jews are not familiar with their Jewish identity.
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.


Reform Jews do not believe that the Jewish Law is revealed by God. 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 retain 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 either 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 Lord to give the Jewish people in Romania 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 Romania 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 Romania to open the doors to Christ's ambassadors.


Scripture Prayers for the Jewish, Romanian in Romania.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Jewish, Romanian
People Name in Country Jewish, Romanian
Natural Name Romanian Jewish
Pronunciation roh-MAY-nee-un joo
Alternate Names Jewish; Romanian Jew
Population this Country 2,400
Population all Countries 216,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16126
ROP3 Code 111222
ROP25 Code 303368
ROP25 Name Jewish
Country Romania
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Widespread. Muntenian dialect: Muntenia or Wallachia; other dialects north and west, including Transylvania.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Romania
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Widespread. Muntenian dialect: Muntenia or Wallachia; other dialects north and west, including Transylvania..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Jewish, Romanian in Romania
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Religion Subdivision: Judaism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
90.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
10.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Romanian (2,400 speakers)
Language Code ron   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Romanian (2,400 speakers)
Language Code ron   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Romanian

Primary Language:  Romanian

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1561-1993)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1648-1993)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1688-2023)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Romanian 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 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
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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  LCV - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: World Jewish Congress, Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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