Dr. Ira M. Sheskin
Dr. Ira M. Sheskin is the Director of the Jewish Demography
Project of the Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary
Judaic Studies at the University of Miami and
is a professor of Geography at the same institution.
Dr. Sheskin has completed 38 major demographic studies
for Jewish Federations throughout the country, including
Miami, Broward, South Palm Beach, West Palm Beach,
Sarasota, Pinellas, Orlando, and Jacksonville. His studies for
Jewish Federations are based upon random digit dialed
telephone surveys of hundreds of Jewish households in
each community, querying migration behavior, demographic
characteristics, memberships, Jewish education of adults
and children, familiarity and perceptions of Jewish agencies,
social service needs, relationships to Israel, anti-
Semitic experiences, the use of media, philanthropic behavior,
and other topics. The information is used to inform decision
making by numerous Jewish organizations and synagogues
in each community.
He has also been a consultant to numerous synagogues,
day schools, Jewish agencies, and Jewish Community
Centers throughout the country. In total, he has completed
more than 100 studies for over 75 Jewish organizations and
commercial concerns.
Dr. Sheskin was been a member
of the National Technical Advisory
Committee of United Jewish
Communities from 1988 until
2003. This committee completed
both the 1990 and 2000 National
Jewish Population Surveys.
His publications include a book
entitled Survey Research for
Geographers. He is the author of
numerous articles on Jewish
demography. His latest book, How Jewish Communities Differ,
compares the results of 45 Jewish demographic studies.
Dr. Ira M. Sheskin
Associate Professor University of Miami
Department of Geography and Regional Studies
217 Ferre Building • Coral Gables, FL 33124
Director: Jewish Demography Project
Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary
Judaic Studies University of Miami
UM Office: (305) 284-6693
Fax: (954) 435-5566
email: isheskin@miami.edu
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