Arnold Dashefsky

Jewish Population in the United States, 2012

This chapter provides estimates of the Jewish population for about 900 American Jewish communities as well as estimates for the country as a whole, states, regions and Metropolitan Statistical Areas. It documents a major shift of American Jewry over the past four decades from the Northeast to the West and the South, with little change in the Midwest. These changes are due to significant decreases in Jewish population in New York and Pennsylvania and significant increases in California, Florida, Georgia, and other southern and western states. Also, presented are major findings from a recent study in Richmond (VA), comparisons about Jewish communities on percentage Jewish and geographic concentration, and maps of Jews in Illinois and the Maryland/Delaware area.

Ethnic identification among American Jews : socialization and social structure

What is a Jew? Who is a Jew? have long been important sociological questions. The authors, in addressing these issues, focus on the individuals interpersonal relationships during the socialization process and their personal integration in a social and organizational context. They assert that Jewish education, positive Jewish experiences with parents and peers during adolescence and ongoing involvement with other Jews is necessary and important for Jewish identification. This important study on factors shaping Jewish identification is often cited. Originally published by D.C. Heath in 1974. This edition contains a new preface by the authors.

United States Jewish Population, 2016

This chapter examines the size, geographic distribution, and selected characteristics of the Jewish population of the US. Section 15.1 addresses the procedures employed to estimate the Jewish population of more than 900 local Jewish communities and parts thereof. Section 15.2 presents the major changes in local Jewish population estimates since last year’s Year Book. Section 15.3 examines population estimates for the country as a whole, each state, the four US Census Regions, the nine US Census Divisions, the 21 largest US Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), the 20 largest Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs), and the 51 Jewish Federation service areas with 20,000 or more Jews. Section 15.4 examines changes in the size and geographic distribution of the Jewish population at national, state, and regional scales from 1971–2016. Section 15.5 presents a description of local Jewish community studies and lists communities currently involved in such studies or planning such studies. Section 15.6 relates to chapters in the current volume, specifically Part I on Orthodox Jews, by presenting comparisons of Jewish communities on the percentage of households who are Orthodox, and to Chap. 13 on Jewish families, by presenting comparisons of Jewish communities on the percentage of single person households and households with children. Section 15.7 presents an atlas of local American Jewish communities, including a national map of Jews by county and 14 regional and state maps of Jewish communities.

Jewish Population in the United States, 2014

This chapter examines the size, geographic distribution, and selected characteristics of the Jewish population of the US. Part I addresses the procedures employed to estimate the Jewish population of over 900 local Jewish communities and parts thereof. Part II presents the major changes in local Jewish population estimates since last year’s Year Book. Part III examines population estimates for the country as a whole, each state, the four US Census Regions, the nine US Census Divisions, the 20 largest US Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), and the 51 Jewish Federation service areas with 20,000 or more Jews. Part IV examines changes in the size and geographic distribution of the Jewish population at national, state, and regional scales from 1971 to 2014. Part V presents a description of local Jewish community studies and a listing of studies currently in progress. Part VI relates to Chap. 2 on gender by presenting comparisons of Jewish communities on synagogue attendance and levels of emotional attachment to Israel by age and sex. Part VII presents an atlas of local American Jewish communities, including a national map of Jews by county and 14 regional and state maps of Jewish communities.

Are You “Pewish”? Multiple Assessments of the Landmark Pew Survey

As of June 2014, a Google search of the Pew Research Center’s A Portrait of Jewish Americans yielded no fewer than 197,000 results (in 0.40 s)! An important theme of the discussion surrounding the Pew Survey, released on October 1, 2013, focused around what The New York Times headlined in its account: “Poll Shows Major Shift in Identity of U.S. Jews” (Goodstein 2013, p. A11). As Chap. 16 of this volume suggests, “It came like a thunderbolt out of the blue” and spawned much debate and dialogue. The significance of the survey, based on a probability sample of the US Jewish population, was rooted in its being the first comprehensive study since the 2000–2001 National Jewish Population Survey (NJPS 2000–2001). Recognizing the importance of this landmark effort, we asked a panel of 10 prominent social scientists to comment on the Pew findings from the perspective of their respective expertise. The panel’s results are presented in the chapters following a summary of the report. In Chap. 13, a response is provided by two of the principal investigators at the Pew Research Center. Our hope is that these chapters will shed more light than heat on the topic.

Orthodox Judaism in the US: Retrospect and Prospect

In this introduction, we: 1. present the highlights of the Pew report on American Orthodox Jews; 2. provide summary observations on the substantive and policy implications as stated in the commentaries by the invited contributors; and 3. comment on the implications of the report in regard to an assessment of Orthodox Judaism within the context of American Jewish denominational life.

Transitions: Major Events, Honorees, and Obituaries

This chapter provides a listing of major events in the North American Jewish Communities from May 2014 to May 2015, a list of persons honored by the Jewish and general communities from May 2014 to June 2015, and a list of obituaries of North American Jews from June 2014 to May 2015.

Jewish Institutions: Jewish Federations, Jewish Community Centers, Jewish Social Service Agencies, National Jewish Organizations, Synagogues, College Hillels, Jewish Day Schools, Jewish Overnight Camps, Jewish Museums, Holocaust Museums, Memorials and Monuments

This chapter provides lists with contact information (name, address, phone number, website) for 153 Jewish Federations, 219 Jewish Community Centers, 180 Jewish Family Services, 28 Jewish Vocational Services, 46 Jewish Free Loans, 759 National Jewish organizations, 206 Jewish overnight camps, 121 Jewish museums, and 152 Holocaust museums, memorials, and monuments. For synagogues, college Hillels, and Jewish day schools, websites are provided that contain lists of these organizations.

Jewish Press: National Jewish Periodicals, Broadcast Media, Local Jewish Periodicals

This chapter provides lists with contact information (name, address, phone number, website) for 144 national Jewish periodicals and 4 broadcast media and 186 local Jewish periodicals.

Academic Resources: Jewish Studies Programs, Holocaust and Genocide Studies Programs, Jewish Social Work Programs, Major Books, Scholarly Articles, Websites and Jewish Organizations, Judaic and Holocaust Research Libraries

This chapter provides lists with city locations, degrees offered, and websites for 257 Jewish Studies Programs, 26 Holocaust and Genocide Studies Programs, 19 Israel Studies Programs, 14 Israel Studies Professorships, and 10 Jewish Social Work Programs. The chapter also includes (1) bibliographic information on 76 books on North American Jewry; (2) names, descriptions, and websites of 42 academic journals covering North American Jewish communities; (3) 108 scholarly articles on the study of North American Jewish communities; (4) names, descriptions, and websites for 45 websites and organizations for North American Jewish community research; (5) names, descriptions, and websites for 46 major Judaic research and holocaust research libraries.