Scottish Longitudinal Study
Development & Support Unit
Current Projects
Project Title:
Demographic change in the Jewish population of Scotland 2001 to 2011 (Beta-test project)
Project Number:
2014_002
Researchers:
Gillian Raab (University of Edinburgh)
Ephraim Borowski (Scottish Council of Jewish Communities)
Fiona Frank (Scottish Council of Jewish Communities)
Start Date:
3 February 2014
Summary:
The aim of the study is to understand the mechanisms that have produced the changes in the numbers answering “Jewish” to the question on religion from the 2001 Census to the 2011 Census. By linking individuals through time we will be able to quantify the inflows and outflows that have led to this. In particular we will examine how these changes differ in three broad areas of the country where trends have been different. In the part of Scotland where more than half of those answering “Jewish” live there has been a decline in numbers between 2001 and 2011, while in other areas (particularly Lothian and Fife) there has been an increase.
The way this question has been answered on both occasions will help in understanding how a person’s declared Jewish religious identity may change over time. Also, by examining the two questions from 2001, in relation to SLS members’ declared identity in 2011, we can investigate the inter-generational transmission of religious identity.
