Survey to gather info on Jewish population BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent A local group that supports Jewish humanitarian needs is hoping to garner more information about the area's Jewish population through a telephone survey commencing this June. The Jewish Federation of GreaterMiddlesex County has hired Ira Sheskin, director of the Jewish Demography Project of the Sue and Ira Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies at the University of Miami, to coordinate the survey of Middlesex County's Jewish community. Sheskin is the author of "How Jewish Communities Differ: Variations in the Findings of Local Jewish Population Studies," which is a compilation of 45 Jewish population studies. The goals of the survey include estimating the size and location of the Jewish population, as well as age, social and economic trends. The study will start in June, when trained telephone interviewers will begin calling thousands of households throughout the area. "This is something we really needed to do. We have to have accurate and up-todate information about the people we are serving," said Lee Livingston, president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County. "For example, based on what we know of the population as a whole and the results we have seen in other counties, we believe the population is aging, but we need to know that for a fact.We also want to learn about the needs of families with children, especially those with special needs." The federation is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for Jewish humanitarian needs. Based on the heritage of Jewish values, the federation is committed to the quality survival, strength and vitality of the Jewish people locally, as well as nationally and worldwide. In Middlesex County, the organization provides support to a broad range of educational and community services. Laura Saffron, the group's planning and allocation director, noted that the Greater Middlesex federation contributed more than $1.2 million to local programs that served over 50,000 people last year. Those agencies include Jewish Social Services, Jewish Family and Vocational Services, and the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County. The federation also supports Moshe Aaron Yeshiva High School, Rabbi Jacob Joseph School, Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva, Rutgers University Hillel, Solomon Schechter Day School of Raritan Valley and the YM-YWHA of Raritan Valley. The information from the demographic survey will help guide those social service and religious organizations in developing their programs and making informed policy decisions regarding allocation of resources for needed services. Livingston knows there is often a reluctance on the part of the general population to respond to unsolicited calls, but he is hoping people will make an exception for this survey. "We are asking everyone who is contacted to participate. The survey will take about 20 minutes, but the responses will all be kept confidential. There will be no solicitation," he added. The group is getting the word out through notices and announcements around the county. It is expected that preliminary results of the survey will be available on the Internet in September or October. The group is still seeking additional people with clear speaking voices to make the phone calls. Interviewers will receive about four hours of training and will be expected to work about 12 hours per week beginning in June. Callers will earn $16 per hour and will work from the federation office in South River. For more information about the survey or about the interviewing positions, call Laura Safron at (732) 432-7711, ext. 24, or visit the federation Web site at www.jewishmiddlesex. org.