A New Work in West Los Angeles | Chosen People Ministries

Home > Ministry News > Ministry News > A New Work in West Los Angeles

By Scott N.

Why should Chosen People Ministries focus on working within the Jewish community of Los Angeles? I'm glad you asked! When most people think about Los Angeles, they think about movie stars, sunny weather, beaches, freeways, and its unique culture.

But you may be surprised to hear that Los Angeles has one of the largest and most important Jewish communities in the world. Because Chosen People Ministries is committed to having an impact on the Jewish people, we believe that establishing a thriving ministry in Los Angeles is vital if we are going to effectively influence the heart and mind of the Jewish community worldwide.

There are well over a half-million Jewish people living in the city of Los Angeles and even more in the larger metropolitan area, making Los Angeles the second-largest Jewish city in the United States and the third largest Jewish community in the world.

While these numbers may not seem that significant to you, think about how Los Angeles compares to other cities. According to some statistics, Los Angeles has a larger Jewish population than: Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Paris, London and even Haifa. By some calculations, there are even more Jewish people living in Los Angeles than Jerusalem. This is really astonishing!

In addition, you may be interested to know that Los Angeles has the largest concentration of Israelis living outside of Israel.

Not only is the Jewish population in Los Angeles substantial, it also influences the Jewish community around the world. Prominent Jewish institutions, such as American Jewish University, Hebrew Union College and the Academy for Jewish Religion, train hundreds of rabbis and Jewish community leaders each year. Additionally, influential Jewish organizations like the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Skirball Cultural Center consider Los Angeles their home.

Los Angeles is also the center of the entertainment industry. Since its inception, Jewish individuals have been significantly involved in Hollywood, and the Jewish community is highly represented within the film and television industry. Touching the lives of those involved in the entertainment industry is critical to influencing the cultural fabric of the United States. Many of the leading Jewish figures in the entertainment industry are heroes within the Jewish community. If we can impact these individuals with the Gospel, they can have a tremendous effect on the entire Jewish community.

In light of the staggering impact Los Angeles has upon the Jewish community, the answer to the question, "Why Los Angeles?" is obvious. With a Jewish population over a half million, and being home to a number of significant Jewish organizations, Los Angeles is one of the most prominent Jewish cities in the world.

You may think that ministry within this community is too difficult and that any attempt to have an impact on Hollywood is hopeless. We disagree. We believe that the time is ripe to share the hope of Messiah with the Los Angeles Jewish community. The increased involvement in Kabbalah, the Church of Scientology and other spiritual movements demonstrate a greater longing for spirituality. Only Jesus the Messiah can quench this spiritual thirst.

The demographics of the Los Angeles Jewish community makes its members surprisingly open to the message of Jesus. Unlike other cities, Los Angeles does not have large, primarily Jewish neighborhoods. Instead, the population is dispersed throughout the city, with larger concentrations in the Valley and the West Side.

While Los Angeles does have a sizeable Orthodox community, the vast majority of the Jewish community is secular, with little affiliation to the community's core institutions. Since many within the Jewish community are disengaged from the traditional Jewish organizations, intermarriage is quickly on the rise.

Since the community values pluralism, many people are incredibly open to meaningful dialogue about the claims of Jesus as the Messiah. These recent cultural trends have made many individuals attracted to the transformed lives of those who follow Jesus.

We ask you to take a moment and dream with us. We believe that God is at work within the Jewish community of Los Angeles, preparing the peoples' hearts for the message of the Messiah. Imagine the impact the love and hope of Jesus can have upon this community!