The good, the bad and the ugly

An article on American Jewish life

It's the economy Tipesh

Whilst the American Jewish community is boasting high-income, occupational status and educational levels there is also:

A decrease in outstanding Jewish students

“it is of significance that Jews in American colleges and universities are decreasingly attracted to science and technology and are a decreasing percentage of outstanding students. In part, this is due to the rapid increase of Asian students who have high rates of excellence.”

Significant poverty rates in parts of the community

“But the high socioeconomic status of Jews as a group masks their high income gaps. While their incomes are the second highest in the country, with 75% having incomes of more than $50,000 per year, they also have significant poverty rates. According to a study by the United Jewish Communities, 15%-20% are poor. In New York, the figure is even higher, with more than 25% living near or below the poverty line. The Jewish poor are comprised primarily of the elderly, some of whom are Holocaust survivors; immigrants from the former Soviet Union; ultra-Orthodox; and those earning minimum wage or less.”

Cost of Jewish living too high to bear

“THE COST of Jewish living has become increasingly intolerable. At least 12 years of Jewish day school education is today the norm in the Orthodox community, a cost borne by parents. Tuitions and other required fees in Modern Orthodox high schools in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area average about $20,000 of non-tax-deductible dollars per child. At Manhattan's Ramaz High School tuition is now more than $30,000 annually. When we add the cost of synagogue membership and summer camp fees to the many other costs involved in living Jewishly, the economic realities of the Jewish-committed are far less rosy that the broader data suggest.

Nor is this an issue solely for the Orthodox. Tuition at Manhattan's Abraham Joshua Heschel School, a pluralistic Jewish day school, is very close to that of Ramaz. Especially amid the current economic situation, many parents are finding it increasingly difficult to make their financial ends meet, and those who are not fully-committed to living Jewishly are discouraged from sending their children to day schools because of the high cost. Indeed, a number of Conservative Solomon Schechter day schools have closed in recent years, and it is estimated that another six or so will likely close in the foreseeable future.”

Immigration to Israel less viable

“However, the current economic recession and the housing crisis may actually have just the opposite effect. As a start, both younger and older potential olim may be prevented from making aliya because of an inability to sell their houses at the price they intended when they planned their aliya. Not only that: The strong Israeli real estate market and the across-the-board recent price rises here mean less purchasing power on both the US and Israeli sides. Fewer of the younger olim will consider commuting to jobs in the US as a viable option because of the increasing weakness of the dollar, and seniors living on US pensions and Social Security will find aliya and living in Israel a much less viable option.”

And finally youth movements and Israel programs may too be affected

“In addition, the combined declining dollar and increasing shekel has had serious adverse impact on some of the programs which bring youth to Israel, such as the NFTY-EIE High School in Israel, the Ramah Jerusalem High School TRY program, and the many yeshivot and seminaries which comprise the post-high school Year-in-Israel program.”