Within the Jewish population in the USA, there is a variety of religious affiliations and forms of observance, which contributes to the vibrant mosaic of identities, beliefs, and practices within United States society.
How Many Jews Live in the United States?
The Pew Research Center recently released a demographic study of Jews in the United States. The study estimated that as of 2020, 2.4% of the United States population is Jewish. This equates to approximately 7.5 million people, including 5.8 million adults and 1.7 million children.
Jewish People in the USA: Practicing Religion Or Not?
Many people might assume that if someone identifies as Jewish, it is because they actively practice Judaism, in the same way that if someone identifies as Catholic, it is because they actively practice Catholicism. However, this is not always the case.
The Pew Research Center examined the percentage of United States’ Jews that identify as Jewish based on their religion. Take a moment to examine the chart below.
Note: Pew uses the term “Jews of no religion” to refer to Jews who consider themselves Jewish ethnically, culturally, or by family background rather than by religion (or by religion alone). For example, “Jews of no religion” might have a Jewish parent or were raised Jewish but do not actively practice Judaism.
As you can see, of Jewish adults, 4.2 million, or 73%, identify as “Jews by religion.” In other words, if you ask them what makes them Jewish, they will say their religion: Judaism.
Denominations of Judaism in the United States
What you might not know is that there are several denominations (or movements) within Judaism. The largest of these denominations are:
Orthodox Judaism: While “Orthodox Judaism” is a broad term that applies to many Jewish groups and communities, the denomination emphasizes traditional interpretations of Jewish law and practices.
Conservative Judaism: Conservative Judaism seeks to balance tradition and modernity. Generally, Conservative Jews accept the authority of Jewish law but allow for its adaptation to contemporary circumstances.
Reform Judaism: Reform Judaism emphasizes Judaism as an evolving religion. It places a strong emphasis on ethical and moral teachings while allowing for flexibility in religious practices and beliefs.
Below is a chart that shows the percentage breakdown of Jewish adults in the United States who identify with a particular denomination of Judaism:
The findings above underscore the complexity and variety of Jewish identities – many of which are based on religion, many of which are based on ethnicity. What does “Jewish ethnicity” mean, exactly? We will unpack that question in an upcoming blog. Stay tuned!
To learn more about the United States Jewish community, check out our comprehensive lesson plan on Jewish Americans, which includes student-facing activities.
