Jewish, Greek in Greece

People Name:	Jewish, Greek
Country:	Greece
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	3,100
World Population:	3,400
Primary Language:	Greek
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Jewish
Affinity Bloc:	Jewish
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Jewish people have resided in Greece ever since the Greek Empire of old.
Jews have never been fully accepted into European Christian society until very recent times. At times they were tolerated and at other times they were severely persecuted —e.g., the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492, pogroms of Russia and the Holocaust of Nazi Germany.
The Jews living in Greece are nearly all descendants of Jews who fled some type of persecution. The primary language of the Greek Jews is Greek, the language of the New Testament. Some may speak Hebrew, Yiddish or another language at home depending upon their country of origin. Many educated Jews speak multiple European languages including English.
Most Greek speaking Jews live in North Macedonia in the city of Salonica.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Greek Jews are not as educated and wealthy as the Jews in western Europe. Many own small businesses and work in trade and retail.
Jewish people in Greece have faced antisemitism, especially in times of economic downturns. The Greek government is supportive of this minority group, and their relationship with Israel is strong.
A Non-Jew or Gentile can become a Jew only through a time of prolonged study and commitment. 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.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Traditional Jews see Abraham as the father of their faith and Moses as the great lawgiver. The Law or Torah, the Prophets and the Writings make up the Jewish holy Scriptures. Judaism is a moral, fiercely monotheistic religion. One obtains favor with God by obeying the laws found in the Scriptures. The writings of the Rabbis, the Talmud, are seen as an essential guide to knowing and following the commands of God. The two main holy days of the Jews are the Passover which celebrates the Jews leaving Egypt under the leadership of Moses and the Day of Atonement in which Jews fast, pray and confess their sins. The Jewish Shabbat runs from Friday at sunset until sunset on Saturday. Religious Jews use the time to attend synagogue and to spend time with their families. Jews are known their philanthropic work and helping the less fortunate. The Jews living in Greece are diverse population and can classified into at least four major groups. The strictest branch of Judaism is the Orthodox. They believe the Law and Prophets, what Christians call the Old Testament, is the literal, inspired Word of God and still completely binding on their lives today. This branch of Judaism includes the ultra-Orthodox Hasidim, or "pious ones." The liberal or progressive branch of Judaism is called Reformed. They do not believe in the miracles of the Torah and that Judaism must be fully integrated into modern scientific world. The Conservative Jews try to find a moderate, middle path between Orthodoxy and Reformed Judaism.
One final part of the Jewish population are non-religious or secular Jews. These Jews do not attend synagogue and may go to work on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. These secular Jews may be atheists, agnostics or deists. All four groups of Jews are represented in Greece. A small but growing group of Jews in Greece call themselves Messianic Jews. These Jews have accepted Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah. Orthodox and many Conservative Jews deem them as no longer Jews.

What Are Their Needs?

Greek Jews need to see that their good works can never get them right with God. The only way that God forgives sins is through death and resurrection of his son Jesus. The Jews who accept their Jesus as Messiah are frequently led into the kingdom of God by Christians who model the love of Christ to them.

Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send believers to build friendships with Greek Jews and demonstrate God's love to them.
Pray that God raises up a Messianic Disciple Making Movement among the Jews of Greece.
Pray that more and more Greek Jews would be willing to investigate the claims of Jesus Christ.
Pray that God would open the spiritual eyes of the Jews as they read and study the Old Testament.