Massive study led by Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County indicates unprecedented growth, diversity, economic insecurity in local Jewish community
Boca Raton, FL – Recognizing the dramatic transformations happening in the local and broader Jewish communities and how these population and demographic changes will impact programs and services for years to come, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County recently completed an expansive Jewish community study led by Brandeis University, one of the country’s leading research entities, to learn what today’s community looks like and where it’s headed. The last study of the Federation’s service area, which spans south to Boynton Beach and north to Martin County, was completed in 2005.
Key findings of the Jewish Community Study, conducted in 2018, indicate:
- The Jewish population has experienced tremendous growth with nearly 167,000 people living in 78,000 Jewish households (households that include at least one Jewish adult), a dramatic 21 percent increase from 2005.
- The Palm Beaches’ Jewish community is larger than Jewish communities in major metropolitan areas including Miami, northern New Jersey and Detroit.
- Approximately 27 percent of the Jewish community lives in the growing northern areas, including Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter; 46 percent live in the Boynton Beach and Lake Worth corridor; 13 percent reside in central Palm Beach County, including Palm Beach island and West Palm Beach; 7 percent in the Wellington/Royal Palm Beach area; and 7 percent in Martin County.
- The Boynton Beach/Lake Worth area alone, with an estimated 76,700 people living in Jewish households, has a larger Jewish population than most major American cities, including Dallas, Detroit and Seattle.
- Pointing to greater diversity of the population, the median age of the Jewish population of the Palm Beaches has decreased a decade from 70 to 60.
- The fastest growing segment of the local Jewish population is young families.
– The study estimates there are 22,200 children living in Jewish households, an 88 percent increase from the previous study.
– More than half of children in Jewish households are being raised by interfaith parents, noteworthy as Jewish organizations and synagogues seek innovative approaches to strengthening Jewish identity and engaging families in Jewish life.
- While four in five adults consider Judaism to be part of their daily lives, people are redefining how they want to connect to their Jewish identity and participate in Jewish life, with local Jewish adults expressing reduced interest in institutional affiliation.
- The local community continues to demonstrate a strong connection with the state of Israel, with 88% of local Jewish adults saying they feel connected to Israel and 60% having visited the Jewish state (national rate is 43%).
While there is affluence in the Palm Beaches, the community study revealed substantial levels of economic insecurity within the Jewish community, with a portion of the population in need of support for basic necessities and access to public benefits, such as Medicaid. Relevant survey findings indicate:
- Nearly 16,000 Jewish households (20% of total) describe themselves as just getting along, nearly poor or poor.
- 20,000 Jewish households (23% of total) have experienced economic hardship in the past year.
- About 25,000 Jewish households (nearly one-third of total) include someone with a chronic health issue, disability or special need.
- There are particular vulnerabilities in the Palm Beaches’ Jewish senior population, one of the largest in North America. 14% of local Jewish seniors describe themselves as poor or just getting along, and 10% of seniors rely on public benefits such as Medicaid. This data poses particular implications for the estimated 12,000 Holocaust survivors who live in our area.
“We have been seeing incredible growth in the number of people who live in Jewish households and who are seeking to connect with Jewish life in new ways,” said Jim Baldinger, the chair of the Jewish Community Study. “The results of this study provide us with significant data and clarity about where our community is today and where we are headed; now the real work begins.”
“The growth and change we are experiencing in Jewish Palm Beach is unprecedented – this is now one of the largest, fastest-growing and most rapidly changing Jewish communities in North America,” shared Michael Hoffman, president and CEO, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. “This study lays the groundwork for how our community will make decisions, determine strategic priorities and allocate resources over the next decade. It will take the collective energy and creativity of the entire community to ensure Jewish Palm Beach continues to grow as one of the most vibrant and impactful Jewish communities anywhere.”
Federation is now working with Jewish and secular organizations, philanthropists, community partners, programmatic innovators and policymakers to examine the study results and assess how to most effectively meet the rapidly evolving needs of Jewish population living in the greater Palm Beaches.
