Exploring Jewish demography

Australian Friends of the Hebrew University and Central Synagogue recently hosted demographers Professor Uzi Rebhun of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Dr David Graham, lead researcher of Gen26, for a discussion on demographic change in Israel and Australian Jewry.

The event, titled Israel’s Future … And Ours, was facilitated by National Council of Jewish Women Australia president Lynda Ben-Menashe, and examined how demographic change, Jewish identity and the events of October 7 are affecting Jewish communities in Israel, Australia and the Diaspora.

Rebhun, who is visiting Australia as a Mandelbaum fellow, spoke on the growth of Israel’s population from fewer than 900,000 people in 1948 to almost 10 million today, along with shifts within the Jewish population itself.

He addressed changing patterns of religious identity, political orientation and migration, as well as the growing Israeli population living abroad and its implications for Israel-Diaspora relations.

Rebhun also presented research on changes in communal involvement and attachment to Israel following October 7, drawing on data examining how Jewish communities have responded to the changed environment since the attack.