The distribution of the world’s Jewish population has shifted drastically during the first half of the 20th century and more than half of the Jews now live in the Western Hemisphere, it was disclosed here today by the World Jewish Congress’ Institute of Jewish Affairs.
An Institute survey revealed that the Jewish population of North and South American has increased from 1,200,000 at the turn of the century to 6,000,000 in 1951– rising from 11 percent in 1900 to 53 percent last year. Europe’s Jews, who once numbered 8,900,000, now total 2,700,000, while Israel’s Jewish population has risen from 35,000 to 1,400,000 in the same period. The survey was made by Jacob Lestschinsky, noted statistician and demographer.
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