Papers by Sergio DellaPergola
Routledge eBooks, Feb 16, 2023
American Jewish Year Book, 1995
American Jewish Year Book, 2019
At the beginning of 2018, the world’s Jewish population was estimated at 14,606,100—an increase o... more At the beginning of 2018, the world’s Jewish population was estimated at 14,606,100—an increase of 98,400 (0.68%) over the 2017 revised estimate. As the world’s total population increased by 1.13% in 2017, world Jewry increased at about 60% of the general population growth rate. Jewish population was highly concentrated in two countries, Israel (45% of the world total) and the US (39% of the world total), 9% lived in Europe, 3% in other North America and Latin America, and 2% in other continents. A steady demographic increase in Israel was matched by stagnation or decline elsewhere, which was generated by low birth rates, frequent intermarriage, aging, and emigration. Most Jews are increasingly found in just a few more developed and democratic countries, with tens of communities now below a sufficient critical mass needed to sustain community institutions. This chapter carefully reviews different approaches to Jewish population definitions, the different sources available, and their highly variable quality and reliability. The critically important Jewish-Arab population balance in Israel and Palestine is analyzed. Vignettes on the largest Jewish populations— Israel, the United States, France, Canada, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Russia, Germany, Australia, Brazil, South Africa, Ukraine, and Mexico —are also provided.
Identities in an Era of Globalization and Multiculturalism
This chapter discusses some aspects of the political, socioeconomic and demographic infrastructur... more This chapter discusses some aspects of the political, socioeconomic and demographic infrastructure underlying the development of Jewish culture and identification in contemporary society. While mainly oriented toward understanding the constraints and opportunities that may limit or stimulate the development of Jewish associative life at the global level, the chapter illustrates the more general issues through some examples concerning Jews in the Latin American context. Western societies-while initiating significant military action aimed at the Islamic world-have also pursued other avenues of political advocacy and persuasion. These attempts to export the Western ethos and to try to incorporate and moderate the influences of Islamic hostility have been crowned with only very limited success. The chapter evaluates the relations between population trends and the social environment across countries within the American continent. Keywords: contemporary Jewish global scene; Islamic societies; Jewish autonomy; Latin America; Western societies
Kultur und soziale Praxis, May 18, 2023
Contemporary Jewry
Differences of opinion regarding the numerical size of US Jewry are discussed in this article, wi... more Differences of opinion regarding the numerical size of US Jewry are discussed in this article, with special reference to the 2020 Pew survey of Jewish Americans. Issues discussed involve understanding the theoretical assumptions, technical requirements, and accumulated body of knowledge of Jewish demography and population studies as a discipline; the different methods and biases of Jewish social survey research; the variety of possible Jewish population definitions in a world which is no more dichotomous; the essential role children's Jewish socialization in Jewish population estimates; the independence vs. circularity of existing Jewish population estimates. It is argued that different possible estimates can coexist side-by-side, provided assumptions, methods and definitions are fully transparent and amenable to clear common denominators. The study of US Jews cannot be severed from the study of Jews globally.
American Jewish Year Book, 2022
The Modern Jewish Experience
American Jewish Year Book, 2006
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Papers by Sergio DellaPergola