A vast majority of American Jews consider anti-Semitism to be a major problem facing the community amid widespread fear that it is increasing.
According to a new survey by the American Jewish Committee, nearly nine out of 10 American Jews (88 percent) say anti-Semitism is a problem in the United States with more than a third (38 percent) calling it a very serious problem. Additionally, 84 percent say anti-Semitism has increased—with a plurality, 43 percent, saying it has increased a lot—over the past five years.
“American Jews could not be clearer about the reality of anti-Semitism in the U.S.,” said AJC CEO David Harris. “Our survey provides, for the first time, an in-depth assessment of American Jewish perceptions of, and experiences with, anti-Semitism in their own country. This hatred is real, comes from multiple sources, and is growing. It needs to be taken seriously and dealt with in a sustained, multi-pronged response.”
The survey, which was conducted from Sept. 11 to Oct. 6 among 1,283 respondents, also found that these views are consistent across age cohorts, Jewish denominations and political affiliations.
Some 84 percent of ultra-Orthodox (haredi) Jews, 80 percent of Modern Orthodox Jews, 91 percent of Conservative Jews, 94 percent of Reform Jews, 92 percent of Reconstructionist Jews and 87 percent of secular Jews say anti-Semitism responded that it is a very serious or somewhat of a problem, as do more than nine in 10 (93 percent) Democrats, 87 percent of independents and three-quarters (75 percent) of Republicans.
Additionally, the survey also found that many U.S. Jews consider the extreme political right and left, along with Islamic extremism, as their primary threats. American Jews also overwhelmingly (84 percent) believe anti-Zionism to be a form of anti-Semitism, while 82 percent said that the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement is anti-Semitic.