People group profile · PG011740
The Ethiopian Jews of Israel
The Ethiopian Jews of Israel, numbering about 169,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a historic Jewish community that lived for centuries in the northern and north‑western Ethiopian highlands (especially Gondar, Simien, and Tigray). Major immigration to Israel occurred in the late 20th century (Operations Moses, Joshua, Solomon).
They are an indigenous people in the Jews people cluster of the Jewish Peoples. Their primary religion is Judaism, and they primarily speak Amharic.
Fast facts
- Country
- Israel
- Population
- 169,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Jews
- Primary language
- Amharic (amh)
- Primary religion
- Judaism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Also known as
- Beta Israel
- Region
- Western Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Ethiopian Jews are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Ethiopian Jews
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
100% adherents
Primary language
Amharic · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Amharic
Gospel resources in Amharic
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Amharic)
- JESUS (Amharic)
- Magdalena (Amharic)
- The Savior (Amharic)
Bibles
- 1962 Bible Society of Ethiopia · text
- 1988 Common Version · audio
- New Amharic Standard Version (NASV) · video
- Orthodox-Septuagint Deuterocanonical Version · text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Ethiopian Jews
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
Jew, Ethiopian in other countries
The same people (ROP3 102987) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethiopian Jews | Ethiopia | 9,800 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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