The decline is mainly because of mortality and the relocation of residents from Dade to other South Florida counties, said Ira Sheskin, the University of Miami researcher who conducted the studies.

Yet 93 percent of all Jewish households in the county participate in some form of Jewish activity: There are 64 synagogues, 14 Jewish day schools and three Jewish community.

The Jewish population of South Florida now totals roughly 645,000.

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