As of 2020, the Jewish population in the United States is estimated to be around 7.5 million, representing approximately 2.4% of the total population. This makes Judaism the fourth largest religion in the U.S., after Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. The majority of American Jews live in the Northeast, with New York City being home to the largest Jewish community in the country.
Historical Background
The first Jews arrived in the United States in the 17th century, fleeing persecution in Europe. Over the next few centuries, waves of Jewish immigrants came to the U.S., primarily from Germany, Eastern Europe, and Russia. By the early 20th century, there were over 2 million Jews living in the U.S.
Distribution of Jews in the U.S.
The Jewish population in the U.S. is not evenly distributed. The Northeast is home to the largest concentration of Jews, with over 50% living in the New York metropolitan area. Other major Jewish communities are located in Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, and Philadelphia.
Denominations of Judaism in the U.S.
There are a variety of Jewish denominations in the U.S., ranging from Orthodox to Reform. The largest denomination is Reform Judaism, which accounts for over 40% of American Jews. Other major denominations include Conservative Judaism, Orthodox Judaism, and Reconstructionist Judaism.
Challenges Facing American Jews
Despite their relatively small size, American Jews face a number of challenges, including:
- Anti-Semitism: Jews continue to face discrimination and prejudice in the U.S. In 2021, there were over 2,700 reported incidents of anti-Semitism in the U.S., including hate crimes, harassment, and vandalism.
- Intermarriage: The rate of intermarriage among American Jews is increasing, which is leading to a decline in the Jewish population. In 2019, over 50% of American Jews who married in that year married non-Jews.
- Assimilation: American Jews are increasingly assimilating into American culture, which is leading to a loss of Jewish identity and traditions. In 2020, only 38% of American Jews identified as Jewish by religion.
Conclusion
The Jewish population in the U.S. is a diverse and vibrant community. However, American Jews face a number of challenges, including anti-Semitism, intermarriage, and assimilation. It is important to address these challenges and ensure that American Jews continue to thrive in the United States.
Additional Information
- The Pew Research Center’s 2020 survey of American Jews found that:
- 72% of American Jews believe that anti-Semitism is a problem in the U.S.
- 44% of American Jews have experienced anti-Semitism firsthand.
- 30% of American Jews say that they have concealed their Jewish identity in public.
- The Anti-Defamation League’s 2021 report on anti-Semitism in the U.S. found that:
- There were 2,717 reported incidents of anti-Semitism in the U.S. in 2021, an increase of 34% from 2020.
- The most common type of anti-Semitic incident was harassment (61%), followed by vandalism (23%) and assault (12%).
- The majority of anti-Semitic incidents occurred on school property (35%), followed by private property (28%) and public property (27%).