ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an attempt to determine why Jewish participation in the poverty program, with special emphasis on New York City, has been so minimal. To many people the phrase "the Jewish poor" is a contradiction in terms. Jews are not regarded as poor. One active participant in New York City's poverty program has observed that Jews are always perceived as having money hidden away, and that the poorest among them are viewed as having secret sources of income. Even a cursory examination of the lifestyle and living conditions of thousands of Jews in the old Jewish neighborhoods of inner cities reveals the fallacy of that view. According to an Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) study that follows this selection "Jewish Participation in New York City's Poverty Program", there is evidence of limited participation of the Jewish poor in New York City's poverty program. The nature of the programs carried out under the Economic Opportunity Act also limits Jewish participation.
