Spanish Jewish in Türkiye (Turkey)

How would you like to be pressured to change your language, culture and religion? That is what the Jews in Ismir and Istanbul face. Most are Sephardic, which means they trace their ancestry to Spain. For many years, Turkey's Islamic government has pressured these Sephardic Jews to assimilate into the Turkish culture, which is primarily Islamic, and demanded that they no longer speak their Ladino language. Tens of thousands of Sephardic Jews from Turkey have immigrated to Israel.

Ministry Obstacles

Anti-Semitism, job discrimination, and religious persecution have caused many Sephardic Turkish Jewish people to lose the hope they inherited from Abraham, and they have become nominal or atheistic. Many are trying to hide their Sephardic Jewish identity so that they can find work.

Outreach Ideas

There are strong and growing messianic Jewish fellowships in Israel that would be sensitive and equipped to reach these Sephardic Jewish people. People from these fellowships can be sent to Turkey to reach them. Developing friendships with these Jewish people will develop trust, which will help them to be open to spiritual change.

Scripture Focus

"Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."  2 Timothy 2:25-26

Scripture Prayer

Pray for new believers to have mercy and love for those who are abusive. Pray that they will intercede in prayer for them.

Prayer Focus

Pray that the words of Romans 8:31 "If God be for us, who can be against us?" would penetrate the hearts of Sephardic Jewish people in Turkey and beyond, so they would know him and his saving grace found in Jesus. Pray for a powerful movement to Christ among them in Turkey.