A study conducted by the Steinhardt Social Research Institute at Brandeis found that there are now 6.5 million Jews in the United States, which is 20 percent more than previously thought. Klutznick Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies Leonard Saxe (Heller), the lead researcher of the study, presented the findings last December at the Association for Jewish Studies conference in Boston.

The new study employed a new paradigm that increased researchers' ability to accurately study and measure small groups by aggregating more than 150 national surveys conducted by the United States government and independent institutions that asked about religious identity.

The findings contradict previous estimates by the 2000-2001 National Jewish Population Survey, which noted a negative trend in Jewish population growth.

In a Dec. 27, 2010 op-ed published in The Jerusalem Post, Saxe wrote, "Concern about shrinking U.S. Jewish community has been fueled, in part, by socio-demographic studies. But, as has been suspected for some time, many of the key studies dramatically underestimated the Jewish population."

The National Jewish Population Survey consisted of surveys and interviews that were administered to thousands of Jews and non-Jews, according to the Jewish Virtual Library.

In an interview with the Justice, Saxe noted his study signifies that the Jewish community should no longer be seen as a "melting ice cube," and the narrative of the Jewish community can change to reflect the growth of American Jewry.

One challenge of calculating the number of American Jews, Saxe explained, is that Jews define themselves in a variety of ways.

Therefore, it is difficult to understand the Jewish community only by asking individuals whether they are Jewish.

Another part of the study additionally examined the involvement of American Jews in the Jewish community.

Saxe conducted a survey of 1,400 Jews and used that data to estimate that about 82 percent of Jews see themselves as Jewish by religion, while others identify as Jews for other reasons, such as culture.

Saxe, however, noted that this means that Jewish institutions like synagogues are even less successful than previously thought because they are attracting an even smaller percentage of the Jewish population.

Additionally, over half of those who identify as Jewish by religion do not belong to a synagogue, and the vast majority of Jews have limited to no understanding of the Hebrew language.

"The problem isn't the rejection of Jewish identity; the problem is the lack of the number of meaningful experiences for people to be involved in," said Saxe.

Saxe pointed to the potential for programs such as Taglit-Birthright to engage young Jews with their Judaism and the State of Israel.

A 2009 study conducted by the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies concluded that Birthright alumni are more likely to become members of a synagogue and give their children a Jewish upbringing than Jews who have not taken part in the program.

At a January 2011 Birthright event, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu promised to double Israel's investment in Birthright, reported The Post.

"My government will give more than double its investment in Birthright and over the next few years, we will invest more than $100 million in Birthright," said Netanyahu, according to the Post.