ABSTRACT
Today by contrast, American Jews have benefited from decades of economic expansion, which has enabled Jews to become the most economically successful ethnic group in the country. In recent years, some demographers have challenged the estimated Jewish population figures put forth by the National Jewish Population Study of 2000-2001, claiming the figure of 5.2-5.5 million is too low. The political orientation of American Jewish organizations continues to operate in a time warp, fighting the battles of yesteryear, while current needs go unanswered. Once upon a time, critics of the Jewish community resisted the obsession with universal causes at the expense of Jewish ones. The populations most likely to volunteer and give to Jewish causes are not randomly distributed within American Jewry. The implosion of Jewish life ought to be the primary business item on communal and personal agendas.
