U.S. Jewish population increased slightly in 2000

NEW YORK (AP) -- The nation's Jewish population reached 6,136,000 as of 2000, an increase of 75,000 over 1999, according to the new "American Jewish Year Book."

The number gains special interest with U.S. Muslims' claims that the number of adherents to Islam surpasses or equals that of Jews in this country.

The annual, a reference standard compiled by the American Jewish Committee, obtains population estimates from local Jewish groups.

Surveying longer trends, the book said that in 1900, 52 percent of the 1.1 million U.S. Jews lived in the New York City area, but only 32 percent of today's total live there. Northeastern states accounted for 70 percent of Jews in 1920, but 46 percent currently.