The cost of Jewish life in Britain has become so prohibitive that people in some sections of the community cannot afford basic provisions and services, according to demographics experts.
A JC-hosted session at the Limmud conference debated issues relating to the growing cost of aspects of Jewish life, particularly in Orthodox and strictly Orthodox communities.
The affordability of voluntary contributions at Jewish schools, property prices in London communities, burial fees, and the price of kosher food were hotly discussed.
Simon Rocker, the JC's Judaism editor, asked Limmudniks to consider how a young married Jewish couple, both working as teachers, would be able to afford a mortgage for a home in any London area with a sizeable Jewish conmmunity.
Panellist Ben Richardson said he was concerned about the "hidden" costs associated with Jewish life. "The Jewish community is very good when it comes to philanthropy and giving, but there's unfortunately very little focus on why there are such problems," he said.
"Why are we not taking on the issue of why weddings and barmitzvahs are so expensive? It's an important issue to look at."
American author Alan Brill encouraged Anglo-Jewry to look at how Catholic and Greek Orthodox communities had dealt with the economic downturn in recent years.
He said it was difficult to be part of the Jewish community in the United States without "making serious numbers" in terms of income. A belief had developed in the US, he said, that a family with three children required an income of at least $200,000 to live what would be seen as a normal Jewish lifestyle.
"People have had to move locations or make readjustments to their lives," he said.
Mr Rocker said: "Housing prices are soaring in London and places in Hertfordshire. You might have thought there would be some emigration back into the regional communities. The latest census showed no evidence of people moving back into cheaper property areas."
Expensive social events for young professionals was also driving people away from Jewish life, Mr Richardson claimed. He said charging £30 for a communal Friday night dinner meant many younger Jews simply could not afford to take part. "There are more and more people cut off," he said.
Issues relating to Charedi communities in London included problems with basic sustenance, Mr Richardson added.
Many mainstream communities were now unable to afford to pay a rabbi a full salary, meaning some ministers would be left needing to find additional income in years to come, the panellists concluded.
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