Friday, / July 4, 2025
Home / news

Numbers Count

In an interesting news item published by the University of Manchester, a recent study finds that the ultra-Orthodox Jewish population will constitute a majority of Jews by the year 2050.

The study looked at population growth in the United Kingdom, with similar patterns confirmed for Israel and the United States, showing that every 20 years, the ultra-Orthodox population doubles in size.

That’s not enough, though, to turn the almost negative growth rate of the Jewish population around, any time soon. For that to happen, larger families may well need to start showing up among a much wider Jewish demographic. Maybe that’s why the Lubavitcher Rebbe granted so many the blessing of children, and encouraged the desire for large families.

Jewish continuity, he insisted, depended on Jewish children first.

But the concern is broader yet. From a Jewish perspective, ensuring positive human population growth is a moral imperative. “Be fruitful and multiply” is the particular mitzvah given to the Jewish people.  But the Torah applies the mitzvah to populate the earth with human life, to humankind at large.

Comment

Be the first to write a comment.

Add

Related Articles
Any Given Sunday
Sunday Dollars became an institution in itself. In order to maintain an ample supply of newly minted dollar bills, I arranged with the Federal Reserve…
My Shabbat in Cyprus
When life gives you lemons…find a Chabad House. Let me begin at the end. I have always admired Chabad. Their passion and commitment to every…
Sons And Daughters At The Seder Table
It was unseasonably cold on the first night of Passover back in 1979. Snow had fallen the day before and melted into slush puddles that…
A Bed, a Table, a Chair and a Lamp
The Rebbe did not hold press conferences nor grant press interviews. So reporters would usually be directed to my office where I did my best…
Newsletter
Donate
Find Your Local Chabad Center
Magazine