89,000 Jews and 29,000 non-Jews live in 46,000 Jewish households in San Diego County, according to a study released by the United Jewish Federation of San Diego County.  This makes San Diego one of the 20 largest Jewish communities in the United States.

This first-ever scientific survey of the San Diego Jewish community reveals a diverse community, spread throughout the county, with a growing presence in the northern coastal and inland areas.  It shows considerable numbers of old and young, newcomers and long-time residents, Jews who have strong Jewish connections and those who are not involved in the Jewish community.

"This is the first time we have had hard data about the local Jewish community.  We are looking forward to using the information in our planning processes, as we work with our constituent agencies to build an ever stronger community", said Andrea Oster, who has chaired the process over the past two years.

Among the study's highlights:

The Jewish community, like San Diego itself, is relatively new

• Only one in ten respondents was born in San Diego County, one in four in California.
• 19% of the respondents were born outside the United States.
• 54% of Jewish adults have lived in San Diego for less than 20 years, 19% for less than five years. 

The Jewish community is spread throughout the county, with certain concentrations:

•  27% of the households live in North County Coastal (Carmel Valley through Oceanside), and 18% live in North County Inland.
• 21% live in greater East San Diego (the College Area, Del Cerro, San Carlos, east through El Cajon and Santee).
• 17% live in La Jolla and adjoining neighborhoods (University City, Pacific Beach, Clairemont).
• Household composition varies by area.  North County Inland has 18% of the households but 26% of Jewish children.  La Jolla and surrounding areas have 17% of the households but 20% of the seniors.

Reflecting the broader community, the Jewish community has a large singles component:

• 40% of the respondents were not married at the time of the survey.
• 15% had never been married.

Philanthropy among the Jewish population remains strong, but less so among the young:

• 85% of respondents report a household contribution to a charitable cause.
• 52% report a household contribution to a Jewish charity.
• But two out of five respondents under 35 report no gift to any charity.

Jewish connections to Israel and the importance of being Jewish remain strong:

• Being Jewish is very important to two out of three Jewish respondents in San Diego County.
•  Israel is very important to seven out of ten Jewish respondents.
•  85% of those who are parents feel it is very important for their children to know and appreciate Jewish customs and beliefs.

But in San Diego, as in many other Western communities, rapid growth and geographic sprawl are accompanied by low rates of engagement in the organized Jewish community:

• Only three out of ten report that they belong to a synagogue or temple.
• Only 46% report participation in organized Jewish activities.
• 35% feel "not at all connected" to the San Diego Jewish community.

The Jewish community has an increasingly large interfaith component:

• 45% of all marriages in which at least one spouse is Jewish are intermarriages.
• 60% of marriages taking place between 1990 and 2002 in which at least one spouse is Jewish were intermarriages.
• Only 21% of the 10,000 children in intermarried households are being raised Jewish; an additional 29% are being raised both Jewish and another faith. 

The survey consisted of 1,080 completed half-hour interviews with adult members of Jewish households.  To identify Jewish households, over 90,000 phone numbers were randomly dialed, and a series of screening questions asked.  The study was conducted by International Communications Research of Media, PA, and Ukeles Associates, Inc. of New York, NY.