Local synagogue growth mirrors population increase
LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor
The recent growth of the Valley's Jewish community, which mirrors the general community's population growth, gives Valley newcomers and residents a wide choice of religious institutions to attend.
According to the U.S. Census, in Maricopa County there was a 44.8 percent population increase between 1990 and 2000.
At the time of the last local Jewish demographic survey in 1983-1984 by the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, there were 45,000 full and part-time Jewish residents living in Central Phoenix, Scottsdale, the Tri-Cities (Mesa, Chandler and Tempe) and Sun City.
In 2000, the estimated Jewish population in the state of Arizona was 81,500, signifying an estimated 1.6 percent of Arizona's total population, according to the American Jewish Year Book 2001, published by the American Jewish Committee.
A more recent survey of the Valley's Jewish population was conducted earlier this year by the federation, and results are expected within the next few weeks, said Shirley Norris, director of the federation's marketing and communications department.
With regard to the type of congregations in the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area, there are:
- Seven Orthodox synagogues
- Five Conservative synagogues
- 11 Reform synagogues
- Other congregations include Humanistic, Jewish Renewal, Traditional Egalitarian, Sephardic, Bukh-arian, a chavurah for gay and lesbian Jews, and an independent group - the Desert Foothills Jewish Community Association - that holds monthly Shabbat services
The number of Orthodox synagogues in the Valley has increased by three in the past 10 years, evident from the listing of congregations in the "1992 Guide to Jewish Living," a special issue of Jewish News of Greater Phoenix.
Also listed that year were seven Conservative congregations, one "traditional Conservative" synagogue, eight Reform congregations, a Humanistic society and a chavurah based on the Jewish Renewal movement.
Last year, four new congregations were formed: Temple Havurat Emet, a Reform congregation in Sun Lakes; Temple Gan Elohim, a Reform congregation in the West Valley; Chabad of the West Valley; and The New Shul, a traditional- egalitarian synagogue based in Scottsdale.
One Orthodox congregation, Agudat Achim in Phoenix, closed this year.
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