Largest Concentration Of Jews Is In Israel-5,500,000

Sep 25, 2008 15:01
World Jewish population grows by 70,000
By JPOST.COM STAFF

The world's Jewish population is on the rise, up 70,000 in the past year, and currently stands at 13.3 million people, annual statistics released by the Jewish Agency on Thursday found.  The figures showed that the largest concentration of Jews was in Israel, with 5,500,000 people. Not far behind was the United States, with a Jewish population of 5,300,000. France, Canada, Britain, Russia, Argentina, Germany, Australia, and Brazil were also mentioned among the top ten Jewish population centers.

Regarding immigration to Israel, the Jewish Agency statistics showed that the numbers continue to remain positive, with over 10,000 new and returning Israeli citizens arriving in the past year.

The statistics also highlighted that in North America alone, nearly 1.5 million people currently live in interfaith households which include at least one Jewish member.  "There is a tangible threat of assimilation hovering over the Jewish people," Jewish Agency chairman Ze'ev Bielski said in a statement released by the Agency. "The Jewish Agency is working and increasing its efforts todeepen Jewish education in Jewish communities, to strengthen the Jewish identity of the younger generation in the Diaspora and to tighten the connection between Jewish communities and the state of Israel."