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Actual, Intended, and Appropriate Family Size Among Jews in Israel

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Abstract

Israel’s population reflects a unique combination of large-scale immigration and comparatively high fertility. Demographic trends impact on Israel’s regional and global relations. With a current measure of 3.9 children for Muslims and 2.8 for Jews in 2007, Israel’s fertility stands much above European, American, and some Mid-Eastern countries. This article examines fertility patterns and attitudes among Jews (79% of Israel’s total population) based on a 2005 national survey of women and men at reproductive ages, married or in stable unions. Different demographic, socioeconomic and cultural contexts affect Jewish fertility levels in Israel. The impact of countries of origin and socioeconomic differences greatly diminished over time. Cultural factors, primarily religiosity, continue to be important determinants of a relatively high and stable quest for children. We compare actual, intended, and appropriate (according to the self-perception of respondents) family sizes. Diffuse gaps exist between ideal perceptions (focusing on 3–4 children) and actual performances (2–3 children). Significant gaps also exist between intended and appropriate family size, in both directions—the intended being either higher or lower than the perceived appropriate. Analysis of these discrepancies may provide important clues on the determinants of fertility norms and decisions, and on future family policies.

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Acknowledgments

A version of this paper was presented as part of a longer report at the Population Association of America, New York, March 2007. Research was undertaken in the framework of a Demographic Initiative sponsored by the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) in 2004–2005. Thanks are due to Sallai Meridor, then Chairman of JAFI executive, for his encouragement. The Israeli Survey of Attitudes and Behaviors Concerning Family Size was planned and coordinated by the author with Rimona Wiesel, then Head of Research Division, Department of Immigration, JAFI, assisted by Moran Neuman. Fieldwork was undertaken by the Dahaf Institute, under the direction of Mina Tzemach. Ilana Ziegler, Director General of the Israel Family Planning Association, advised on questionnaire contents. The Jewish People Policy Planning Institute (JPPPI) in Jerusalem, its Founding President Yehezkel Dror and General Director Avinoam Bar Yosef provided support for the project. Israel Pupko ably assisted with data processing at JPPPI. This paper also reflects research at the Division of Jewish Demography and Statistics (DJDS), the A. Harman Institute of Contemporary Jewry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Uzi Rebhun provided helpful advice. Research continued during a stay as Senior Fellow at the Steinhardt Social Research Institute (SSRI), the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass., headed by Leonard Saxe. Jessica Gipson of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an anonymous reviewer offered valuable critical remarks on an earlier draft. Responsibility for the contents of this report rests solely with the author.

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  1. The Avraham Harman Institute of Contemporary Jewry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Sergio DellaPergola

  2. The Jewish People Policy Planning Institute, Jerusalem, Israel

    Sergio DellaPergola

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DellaPergola, S. Actual, Intended, and Appropriate Family Size Among Jews in Israel. Cont Jewry 29, 127–152 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12397-009-9011-1

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