Jewish Population Finally Nearing Pre-Holocaust Numbers At 16.5 Million Worldwide

The Jewish People Policy Institute released their annual report, which shows that the Jewish population worldwide is finally nearing its pre-Holocaust numbers. Before the Holocaust and World War II, there were roughly 16.5 million people who identified as Jewish. However, after WWII, only about 10.5 million remained as nearly 6 million Jewish people were horrifically murdered during the Holocaust. Now, thanks to both “natural” reasons and “changing patterns of Jewish identification,” the Jewish community is almost back to its pre-WWII numbers according to the recording institute.

The Daily Mail reports that the Jewish People Policy Institute released their annual report outlining the number of people in the world that identify as Jewish. The report claims that there are 14.2 million Jews worldwide but that number does not include individuals with only one Jewish parent or those who identify as “partially-Jewish.” When those numbers were considered, the report claims that the numbers would jump to roughly 16.5 million.

The report says that there are two factors at play that have accounted for the increase in the Jewish population around the world. First is natural reasons. Israel, which is home to 6.1 million Jews, has one of the Western world’s highest fertility rates. Therefore, the population continues to grow as families increase in size. In addition to natural growth, changes in “patterns of Jewish identification” have also accounted for a population surge.

Avinoam Bar-Yosef, the Jewish People Police Institute president, notes that more people with just one Jewish parent in the United States are identifying as Jewish. Yosef notes that 59 percent of adults with just one Jewish parent in the United States now identifies as Jewish. He says this is the first time “in memory” that a majority have identified as such.

“59 percent of adult children in the U.S. who have just one Jewish parent now identify as Jewish, a majority ‘for the first time in memory.’ More of those Jews were probably identifying as Jewish because it is more ‘respectable’ to be Jewish in the U.S. than it was years ago.”

The Guardian notes that at least one million Jews included in the 16.5 million figure are “secular Jews.” Therefore, they would be less likely to associate themselves with the Jewish lifestyle and institutes; however, still identify as Jewish.

What do you think about the notion that it is more “respectable” to be Jewish in the United States? Do you think there was a time in the U.S. recently when it was seen as taboo to claim a Jewish faith?

[Image Credit: Getty Images/ Lior Mizrahi]