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On the eve of the Jewish New Year of 5767, Israel’s non-Jewish population, most particularly its Muslim population, has made the most population gains, percentage –wise. The country’s total population of 6,990,700, now includes 5,131,700 Jews, 76%, and 1,377,100 Arab, 19.7%. What is interesting to note is that, since the year 2000, the Jewish population has actually decreased by 1.8%, while Muslims have increased by 1.1%. The country’s decreasing Christian population is even more noteworthy with only 146,400 total members, of whom 118,700 are classified as Christian Arabs. Another population section of 272,200 are considered ‘other-classified’, or neither as Jews or other religious affiliations. These persons, include certain minority populations (Druze, Samaritans, Circassians, etc.) as well as those from the former Soviet Union, came to Israel under the country’s Law of Return, but are not officially considered Jewish.

One of the more disturbing elements of this apparent population change is the fact that Israeli Jewish women are as a whole having fewer children, now estimated at 2.84 children; down from 2.95 per female in 2003. While religious women, particularly from the orthodox and ultra-orthodox communities are still adhering to the biblical command of “be fruitful and multiply”, their secular counterparts, being more interested in their careers, are having fewer babies – a trend even more prominent in Europe and North America.

It’s understandable why this happening as with increased life styles, non-religious families are more interested with a better standard of living, than having more children. Working women, whose time outside the home is growing, simply do not have the time to raise kids – one of the reasons why more and more day care facilities are now in operation, including those situation at or near women’s work places (the ’silicone valley syndrome’).

Muslim women, on the contrary tend to stay at home more and less likely to choose a career over raising a family. With less emphasis on birth control (secular Jewish women take ‘the pill’ as a matter of course) Muslim families are much larger with an average of 5 children per female.

Income disparity is also become more noteworthy between various elements of the population with a growing gap between the affluent and less-affluent sectors of the population. For example, the top ten per cent against those at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. The once prominent middle class is shrinking with more and more joining the ranks of their less fortunate brethren down below. This phenomenon is even more prominent with older workers who find themselves being removed from positions, in favor of younger workers. Non-Jewish population sectors, especially the Arab sector have an even more serious economic dilemma which has been displayed in various forms, including violence.

The recent war has also contributed to this economic ‘lop-sidedness’ in the country’s citizens which will also effect the society during the coming New Year. All in all, these factors will definitely have an influence on future population counts, especially among extreme sections of the population. Increased Jewish immigration may help offset the previously mentioned demographic trends, but in the end, one must be able to earn one’s daily bread.

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