The number of Jews in Europe, including Britain, Turkey, and Russia, has fallen to a 1,000-year low, a new study conducted by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research in London and published on Sunday shows.
According to the study, there are only 1.3 million people currently living in Europe who define themselves as Jews. This is the same number counted by famous Jewish traveler and scholar Benjamin of Tudela in 1170.
The study shows that since 1970, Europe has lost some 60% of its Jewish population. In 1970, there were 3.2 million Jews living in Europe. According to the study, 1.5 million Jews left Europe after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
Apart from that emigration, Jews have been leaving countries in western Europe, such as France. In 1970, France was home to 530,000 Jews, whereas today, only 449,000 Jews live in France. A total of 51,455 French Jews moved to Israel, while others emigrated to Canada in response to anti-Semitism in France.
The study also found that 40% of Germany’s 118,000 Jews are over 65, with only 10% of the country’s Jewish population under the age of 15 – meaning that Germany’s Jewish population is aging and beginning to disappear.
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