was lower than in the total white population of New York for practically all causes of death. The only minor exception is diabetes for which the rate in the Jewish areas, is slightly higher than in the total city, the rates being 27 and 26 respectively, per 10,000 of the population.
The difference in death rate between the Jewish areas and the city (white population) is particularly marked in tuberculosis (41 and 62), pneumonia (69 and 110), diarrhea (7 and 13), syphilitic diseases, less than 50% of the rate for the total population.
The rate of juvenile delinquency was 3.1 in the Jewish areas compared with 6.5 for the city.
The Jews are a “younger” group compared with the total population. Thus, among Jews 40.1% are below the age of 21, while in the total population 34.9 are below 21. Among the Jews 59.9% are 21 or older, and in the total population 65.1% are 21 or older.
The Jews tend to disseminate gradually throughout the city, moving out of areas that are predominantly Jewish. Thus, in 1917 more than one half of the Jews lived in Jewish areas while in 1932 less than one fourth of the Jewish population lived in such areas. There was a corresponding decrease in the number of areas in which the proportion of Jews was very small. Thus in 1917, the number of areas in which the proportion of Jews was less than 5% of the total population was more than 40. In 1932 the number decreased to 8. The proportion of Jews to the total population of the city remained practically unchanged during the last fifteen years.
In his report, Dr. Maller deplores the frequent inaccuracies in statistics concerning the Jewish population. He points out that the World Almanac of 1933 still carries the erroneous report that the membership in Jewish congregations was 357,135 in the year 1916 and 4,081,242 in the year 1926. This error is due to the frequent confusion between the number of members in Jewish congregations and the total number of Jews. Only by means of accurate and uniform statistics will it be possible to study the Jewish community and to plan a program of social and religious activities.
Dr. Maller recommends a number of improvements in the statistical procedure of the Federal Census of Religious Bodies.
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.
