Over the past 20 years, Jewish poverty has grown much faster than the Jewish community as a whole. According to the Jewish Community Study of New York: 2011 Special Report on Poverty, nearly half (47%) of all Jewish people living in New York City are considered poor or near-poor. The high cost of Kosher foods also makes it difficult for Jewish families to uphold their traditions with dignity.
Food Bank For New York City is taking steps to meet the increased need across the city’s diverse Jewish Community. By partnering with our network of more than 40 Kosher agencies, last year Food Bank distributed approximately 5.1 million Kosher meals. During Hurricane Sandy, Food Bank delivered more than 2 million Kosher meals in affected areas as part of our disaster response and long-term recovery efforts.
Did You Know?
- One in four New York City Jewish households is considered poor.
- Within the Jewish community, seniors living alone are especially vulnerable, with 28% considered poor.
- Manhattan saw a 74% increase in the number of poor Jewish households from 2002 to 2011.
- In New York City overall, there were twice as many people living in poor Jewish households in 2011 as there were in 1991.
*Source: Jewish Community Study of New York: 2011 Special Report on Poverty. 2011 is the latest year for which data is available.
For those who need assistance or need to be connected to one of our Kosher agencies, find Kosher services near you.