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May 4, 2001/Iyar 11, 5761, Vol. 53, No.31
Survey: U.S. Muslims at No. 2
JULIE WIENER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
NEW YORK - Jews may no longer be the No. 2 religion in the United States - and they're losing ground.
The long-anticipated demographic change was highlighted last week with the release of a new study estimating the Muslim population of the United States at 7 million. If true, it would mean that American Muslims already outnumber American Jews, whose population is estimated at 6 million.
Christianity, of course, has by far the largest number of followers in the United States.
Jewish leaders say the change represents both challenges and opportunities. Muslims may be adversaries to Jews in framing America's Mideast policy in the Middle East, but they also are potential allies in efforts to strengthen the separation of church and state and to defend the rights of religious and ethnic minorities.
"The days when Jews were seen as the premier non-Christian religion are behind us," said Jonathan Sarna, Braun professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University.
According to the new study, 33 percent of mosque members are of South Asian origin, 30 percent are black and 25 percent are of Arab descent.
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