Phoenix figures misleading
But will be updated in August report
ANNE BRADY
Managing Editor
The American Jewish Year Book 1998, published by the American Jewish Committee, reports a Jewish population in greater Phoenix (Maricopa County) of 50,000 - 5,600 fewer Jewish people than are reported living in the Las Vegas area (Clark County, Nev.).
That 50,000 figure has been reported the same for more than 15 years. But later this year, the Jewish News has learned, when the AJC releases its 1999 Year Book, the Phoenix figure will be updated to 60,000. That update will likely take Phoenix to the top of the fastest-growing list for 1999.
"Although there has been no survey (of the Phoenix Jewish population) since 1983, the growth of the last 15 years is now being accounted for (in the AJC study)," the report will read, according to Executive Editor Ruth Seldin. It is due to be released in August.
The AJC obtains most of its Jewish population figures from the Council of Jewish Federations (now known as United Jewish Communities, since the CJF merger with United Jewish Appeal), which in turn reports numbers it receives from the various federations.
Because the last census, or count, of the Valley's Jewish population was taken in 1983, the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix has continued to report a population of 50,000 all these years. However, last November the Phoenix federation reported 60,000, said Jeff Scheckner, research consultant with the UJC and co-author of the Year Book report.
Scheckner said it's not unusual for a city's Jewish population number to remain the same in the report for several years.
"Typically, a Jewish community of any size, 20,000 and up, does a study every 10 to 15 years," he said.
Federation spokeswoman Shirley Norris said that because a census is "a very costly thing," the Phoenix federation does not have plans to conduct one in the near future.
If a community fails to update its number when it is believed to be noticeably growing or shrinking, Scheckner said he will typically question it. He said he had begun to suspect the Phoenix number was too low when the federation updated it.
Leaders of Jewish organizations in the Valley estimate the Jewish population in Phoenix is actually about 70,000.
Rabbi Robert Kravitz, area director of the AJC, called the 50,000 number in the 1998 report "absurd," noting that the Jewish community in Phoenix is growing "by leaps and bounds, without any question."
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