| Abstract: | Recently concern has been voiced in the American Jewish community about the distribution of the American Jewish population and its impact, especially at a time when American Jewish fertility has reached a low level and when intermarriage and assimilation appear to be threatening the demographic and socioreligious vitality of the community. This paper examines population movement and distribution among American Jews using data from the National Jewish Population Study (1970-71) sponsored by the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, which sampled the Jewish population, including marginal and unaffiliated Jews, in every geographic region of the U.S. Lifetime and recent migration patterns, origin/destination of recent migrants, and socioeconomic differentials are described and discussed. The author concludes that the patterns identified reflect wider residential dispersion and point to an increasing "Americanization" of the Jewish population. Jews are participating in the major currents of population redistribution characterizing the American population as a whole. Regardless of which migration stream becomes popular in the future, the net result is likely to be a more geographically dispersed Jewish population in the future, a trend further reinforced by the observed socioeconomic differentials. Population movement must thus be seen as a key variable in any assessment of the future strength of the American Jewish community, from both local and national perspectives. |
