JDC survey maps Argentine Jewry

Some 244,000 people of Jewish heritage live in Argentina today, according to a new survey. Of this group, which includes those who have either maternal or paternal Jewish heritage,  two thirds define themselves as Jews, according to a survey conducted by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). Some 61 per cent are not affiliated with Jewish institutions, and 30 per cent are poor. The poll, which will be distributed to Argentine Jewish institutions, was intended to help schools, clubs and synagogues develop strategies to bring more Jews to such institutions. The survey was modeled on similar efforts to count Jews in America. 30,000 homes were polled over the past 15 months.