Detroit's Jewish Community
Connected. Deeply rooted. Affiliated. Generous.
The Jewish community of metropolitan Detroit is the 21st
largest Jewish community in the nation. With a population of 72,000,
or 2% of the overall metropolitan Detroit population, the community is
concentrated in Oakland County, with a growing presence in Wayne and
Macomb counties. The highest concentration of Jews is in West
Bloomfield, Farmington Hills and Oak Park. A remarkably stable
community, 58% are locally born and 88% have lived in metro Detroit for
20 years or more.
The degree of religious participation and affiliated in Detroit’s
Jewish community is also remarkable. Seven out of ten Jewish households
with children belong to a synagogue. There are 48 congregations in the
Detroit area, representing the Orthodox, Conservative, Traditional,
Independent, Sephardic, Reform, Humanistic and Reconstructionist streams
of Judaism. Local branches of most national Jewish organizations,
including Hadassah, National Council of Jewish Women, ORT America
- Michigan Region , Jewish War Veterans, and many others (see listing of
JCRC’s member organizations)
can be found in metro Detroit. There are several Jewish day schools and
a Jewish high school, as well as afternoon Hebrew schools and adult
education institutions.
The community is served by a large, independent weekly newspaper, the widely-read
Detroit Jewish News.
Metro Detroit is home to a number of kosher establishments, including
butcher shops, bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets, carry-out
establishments and caterers, in addition to Jewish bookstores and
Judaica shops.
JCRC is one of 19 agencies and schools that receive funding from the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
Through its annual campaign drive and in partnership with the United
Jewish Foundation, Federation raises and allocates funds to provide
assistance to those in need, and to translate Jewish values into social
action. The following network of agencies provides services in
partnership with Federation: