Comprehensive Survey of Russian Jewish Immigrants Paints Picture of Successful Community

American Jewish Committee
Wednesday, 26 January 2000

The American Jewish Committee has released a new survey of Russian Jewish immigrants in New York that paints a broad picture of a community now totaling 400,000 people that is successfully integrating into American society.

"The results dispel the many myths and rumors about Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union," said Dr. Samuel Kliger, chairman of the Research Institute for New Americans, which conducted the poll for the American Jewish Committee.

The overwhelming majority of immigrants from the former Soviet Union – 85 percent – have lived in America less than nine years, according to the survey, Russian Jewish Immigrants in New York City: Status, Identity and Integration, which showed a direct correlation between time spent in New York and economic success commensurate with the American Jewish middle class.

According to the survey, 82 percent of the immigrants below age 65 who have lived in America at least nine years are employed, and 30 percent of them reported household income of $40,000 and above.

At the same time, the survey shows a community of Jewish immigrants that perceives anti-Semitism as much less of a problem than American Jews do.

Only 10 percent of those surveyed see anti-Semitism as a very serious problem in the United States, compared with 40 percent of the American Jewish population. On the other hand, 85 percent of the immigrants indicated that anti-Semitism in the former Soviet Union is a very serious or serious problem.

David A. Harris, Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee, said "this comprehensive survey is a product of our ongoing work with this vibrant immigrant community." AJC runs a unique and successful training program for emerging leaders in the community from the former Soviet Union. Dr. Kliger is one of the graduates of the AJC program.

Other key findings of the survey include:

- 68 percent of Russian Jewish immigrants in New York live in Brooklyn.
- 57 percent of adult immigrants in New York are less than 55 years old.
- 85 percent are "new" immigrants, having lived in America for less than nine years.
- 87 percent of them came to America as refugees.
- More than two-thirds came from Ukraine or Russia.
- 23 percent of Russian Jewish immigrants are already U.S. citizens. Of these, 30 percent are registered Democrats, 34 percent are Independents and 7 percent are Republicans.
- 60 percent of Russian Jewish immigrants have five or more years of higher education.
- Two-thirds of immigrants see their Jewishness as "very important" or "important."

The study was conducted for the American Jewish Committee by the Research Institute for New Americans, the first research center devoted to the study of Russian Jewish immigrants in the United Sates. Drs. Samuel Kliger and Tony Carnes served as principal investigators for the survey of 1,024 Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union in New York City who were interviewed between August 15, 1998 and October 15, 1999.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org