The economic downturn has forced more families into poverty. And more and more, Jewish families are experiencing this tragedy. As Janet Lubman Rathner reports in the fall edition of B’nai B’rith Magazine, an increasing number of Jews are among those struggling to make ends meet.

Rathner writes: “According to the 2001 Jewish Population Survey (the latest complete numbers available), approximately 7 percent of the American Jewish community live below federal poverty lines—a family of four making $22,050 or less—while more than 14 percent hover precipitously close. This translates to more than 700,000 Jews, including 190,000 who are children.”

But the official numbers don’t tell the whole story. Anecdotal evidence finds the problem is far more pervasive.

In addition to the many B’nai B’rith programs dealing with poverty, Rathner discovers a kosher soup kitchen in Brooklyn: “Venture inside and any doubts about the need for places like Masbia are put to rest. It’s packed. When Masbia opened in 2005, volunteers served an average of eight meals an evening, primarily to men on their way to and from shul. Today, the number of nightly diners has grown to more than 200. It also spans a wider demographic.”

The in-depth article uncovers facts that defy stereotypes: “In May, we bought highchairs for the first time. The other night, we had 60 kids in here,” Alexander Rapaport, executive director of Masbia, told B’nai B’rith Magazine. “It’s fulfilling to help, but it tears you apart. It is painful [to see that] this exists. My mashgiach [kosher monitor] said, ‘I can’t take it anymore.’”

To read the full article, “Poverty in America, Jews are Not Exempt,” click: http://www.bnaibrith.org/poverty.pdf

Newspapers may publish the full article with attribution: Courtesy of B’nai B’rith Magazine.