Friday, May 12, 2006

If Russia can do it, why can't we?

Russia's President Putin has recently proposed that Russian women bear more children since the demographics of Russia indicate a massive loss of population. Putin has even proposed financial incentives for Russian women to have multiple children.

Similarly, Jews throughout the world should recognize the serious loss of Jewish population and consider ways to address the dwindling/stagnant growth of the Jewish population. Except for the Orthodox, in my opinion, world Jewry has placed a tremendous stress on itself for survival with low birth rates than from anything since the Holocaust.

Why are we ignoring this issue? Why have we not placed greater emphasis on increasing world Jewry through incentives, grants, college tuition credits for families that have more than two children?

If we can help Jewish families with the financial expense of raising and educating larger families, why don't we? If we can convince healthy Jewish couples to bear more children, what is the harm? I personally would contribute to such a charitable venture. If there is such a charity out there, let me know. If there is not, what are we waiting for? If not now when?

Shalom. Jeremy

1 comment:

JEREMY said...

Supplemental information for readers. Shalom. Jeremy

Sample Population Count


Average Children Per Family
Inter- marriage Rate
First Generation
Second Generation
Third Generation
Fourth Generation

Orthodox
6.4
3%
100
295
874
2588

Modern Orthodox
3.23
3%
100
151
228
346

Conservative
1.82
37%
100
62
38
24

Reform
1.72
53%
100
51
26
13

Unaffiliated
1.62
72%
100
36
13
5