About 13 percent of the Jews in New Orleans are over 65 years of age, a Jewish population study here reveals. They total 1,151 men and women, including 392 who are over the age of 76. There are more women than men in the Jewish community, with the ratio of women to men increasing rapidly after the age of 60. After 75, the ratio of women to men is three to one.
The report also reveals that there are 1, 501 children 10 years of age and under, while there are 828 in the 11 to 20 age group. Thus, of the total Jewish population of New Orleans 16. 5 are in the 10 year and under group, while 9.1 are in the 11-20 age group. “These figures reflect the spurt in births since World War II. They also point up the need to, plan ahead for communal services (educational, recreational, health, etc.) for the growing child population, the report says.
Equally significant is the relatively small number in the 11-25 age group (and 20-25) which bear testimony to the curtailment of the birthrate during the depression and pre-war periods. In this connection, the report states: “The influence of these population-deficient age groups will have a long-range effect of the New Orleans Jewish community. For the next two to three decades the number of Jews over the age of 55 will increase, while the number under 55, but over 30, will decrease. It will be some time before the increase in the birthrate evident after World War II, even if sustained, can modify these trends.”
A comparison of the age distribution of the New Orleans Jewish community with that of the New Orleans total white population shows the following similarities and differences: Similarities–smaller proportions in the 11-20 age group, and excess of females over males, particularly in the older age group; differences–the Jewish population has a relative larger proportion of older people, and there is a greater number of foreign born in the Jewish population.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
