Survey Finds antisemitism and safety fears surge among US Jews

On Feb 13, 2024

The phrase " Zero tolerance for antisemitism " drawn on a carton banner in hand. A girl holds a cardboard with an inscription. Girls on the street. Protest, march. Rally.

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Nearly two-thirds of American Jews feel less secure in the U.S. than they did a year ago, according to a new national survey.

The American Jewish Committee, a prominent advocacy organization, conducted the survey last fall just as the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7.

The number of American Jews who say they feel less secure in the U.S. jumped 22% from last year’s survey.

The survey released Tuesday found one quarter of American Jews said they have been the target of antisemitism in the past year. Almost half of American Jews responding to the survey said they had altered their behavior during the past year to avoid antisemitism – changing what they wore, what they posted online or where they went so other people wouldn’t know they were Jewish.

The survey comes as Jewish and Muslim civil rights and advocacy groups have reported large increases in harassment, bias and physical attacks against their members in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.