New York - More Than 100,000 Jews In The City Are Living Just Above Poverty Line

New York - About 104,000 Jews live just above the poverty line, caught in a world where they are too poor to lead a comfortable life but too wealthy to receive government assistance, a report released yesterday said. The report, documented 53,000 Jewish households whose income was at least $22,530 - or 150% above the federal poverty line - but less than $35,000 for a household of three people.

The report published yesterday said one-third of Jews in the metropolitan area living near the poverty line were struggling to cope with a serious or chronic illness; needed help finding a job; needed help caring for the elderly, or had a child with a learning disability.

The study was based on extensive telephone interviews of 4,533 Jewish households living near the poverty line.