ABSTRACT
The basic problem in delivering adequate services to the Jewish poor is that so many people are either unaware, or unwilling to accept the harsh reality of Jewish poverty. The figures recently released by Chicago's Jewish Federation, which state that there are 18,000 poor Jews and 8,500 near poor Jews in the metropolitan area, are probably not precise. In any case, they do not exaggerate the seriousness of the situation for the particular families involved and the Jewish community in general. The Jewish community cannot assume that, because the city's poverty program operates in some communities, it is reaching poor Jews. Past conversations with the poverty agency's staff indicate that they are not cognizant of the poor Jews in their midst. The Jewish poor are not represented on poverty program boards. These boards have included some individuals of the Jewish faith, on the citywide committee and within the local advisory council in the Uptown area.
