Find out how much you need:
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/Calsystem2/Cal...ce/default.aspx

If I had the time or energy I would start a major campaign to popularize life insurance in the frum community...

With all the orthodox agents I'm surprised it needs popularizing. But people have little financial education (how many yeshivas teach this?) and lack of insurance is just one more thing.

I was impressed to see that one of the new pamphlets sent out in Williamsburg is about financial planning and living within your means. Finally an organization that helps you BEFORE you get into debt instead of afterwards.
(And yes, it was entirely CPS-approved. )

The problem is how many people would make all the payments for the entire term of the policy??? As soon as "times got tough" the insurance would be the first thing to go, and all the money they paid in will have been for nothing.....

Its not for nothing as they had coverage during that time. But I understand your point.
The vast majorities of term policies never pay out and terminate early. You can't help that. But if people were educated as to what life insurance (or any other) is and does and how to buy it it would be very beneficial.

isn't there some campaign for yeshivas offering life insurance to their rabbeim? didn't some guy from MOnsey start it?