American Jewish Committee (AJC) is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. Below is a comparison of the Survey of American Jews and the Survey of the General Public from AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2022.

The State of Antisemitism in America 2022: Survey of American Jews, conducted by the research company SSRS on behalf of AJC, is based on interviews conducted by telephone and online from September 28 - November 3, 2022, among a nationally representative sample of 1,507 Jews aged 18 or older. Telephone interviews were conducted via SSRS Omnibus callback sample[1], and online interviews were conducted via the SSRS Opinion Panel[2] as well as a partner probability panel. The margin of error for total respondents is +/-3.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Find the methodology report here. AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective office.

AJC’s 2022 Survey of the General Public, conducted by the research company SSRS, is based on interviews with U.S. adults were conducted from October 10 – October 18, 2022, among a nationally representative sample of 1,004 respondents aged 18 and older via the SSRS Opinion Panel[3]. The margin of error is +/-3.8 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective office.

*Please note: certain sums may not total 100% due to rounding. An asterisk (*) indicates a number less than 1%.

1. 

How much of a problem, if at all, do you think antisemitism, that is hostility or prejudice toward Jewish people, is in the United States today?

American Jews

   
A very serious problem
  43%
 
 
   
Somewhat of a problem
  46%
 
 
   
Not much of a problem
  8%
 
   
Not a problem at all
  2%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
  *
 
   

General Public

   
A very serious problem
 
  22%
 
   
Somewhat of a problem
  46%
 
 
   
Not much of a problem
 
  18%
 
   
Not a problem at all
 
  5%
 
   
Not sure
 
  8%
 
   
 

American Jews 

General Public 

A problem 

89%

68%

Not a problem

11%

24%

Don’t know/ refused 

--

8%

 

2. 

Over the past five years, do you think that antisemitism in the United States has…

American Jews

   
Increased a lot
  43%
 
 
   
Increased somewhat
  39%
 
 
   
Stayed the same
  16%
 
   
Decreased a little
  1%
 
   
Decreased a lot
  1%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
  *
 
   

General Public

   
Increased a lot
 
  16%
 
   
Increased somewhat
  31%
 
 
   
Stayed the same
 
  26%
 
   
Decreased a little
 
  10%
 
   
Decreased a lot
 
  4%
 
   
Not sure
 
  13%
 
   
 

American Jews 

General Public 

Increased 

82%

47%

Stayed the same 

16%

26%

Decreased

2%

15%

Don’t know/ refused/ not sure 

--

13%

 

3. 

In your opinion, is antisemitism taken more seriously, less seriously, or is it considered to be the same as other forms of hate and bigotry?

American Jews

   
More seriously
 
  13%
 
   
Less seriously
  48%
 
 
   
Considered to be the same
 
  38%
 
   
Not sure
 
  *
 
   

General Public

   
More seriously
 
  16%
 
   
Less seriously
  34%
 
 
   
Considered to be the same
 
  50%
 
   
 

American Jews 

General Public 

More seriously  

13%

16%

Less seriously

48%

34%

Considered to be the same  

38%

50%

Don't know/refused  

--

--

 

4. 

Which statement comes closer to your view, even if neither is exactly right?

American Jews

   
Antisemitism is a problem for everyone; it affects society as a whole
  89%
 
 
   
Antisemitism is only a problem for Jews; it does not affect society as a whole
 
  11%
 
   
Don’t know/ refused
  *
 
   

General Public

   
Antisemitism is a problem for everyone; it affects society as a whole
  91%
 
 
   
Antisemitism is only a problem for Jews; it does not affect society as a whole
 
  9%
 
   
 

American Jews 

General Public 

Antisemitism is a problem for everyone 

89%

91%

Antisemitism is a problem for Jews

11%

9%

Don’t know/ refused 

--

--

 

5. 

How much, if anything, did you hear about Jews being taken hostage in a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas in January 2022?

American Jews

   
A lot
 
  23%
 
   
Some
  31%
 
 
   
Not much
 
  22%
 
   
Nothing at all
 
  24%
 
   
Don’t know/ refused
  *
 
   

General Public

   
A lot
 
  6%
 
   
Some
 
  25%
 
   
Not much
 
  29%
 
   
Nothing at all
  40%
 
 
   
 

American Jews 

General Public 

A lot/some 

54%

31%

Not much/ nothing at all

46%

69%

Don't know/ refused

--

--

 

6a. 

How familiar are you with the BDS movement – that is the movement that advocates for Boycotting, Divesting, and Sanctioning Israel?

American Jews

   
Very familiar
 
  20%
 
   
Somewhat familiar
 
  26%
 
   
Slightly familiar
 
  19%
 
   
Not at all familiar
 
  35%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
 
  0%
 
   

General Public

   
Very familiar
 
  3%
 
   
Somewhat familiar
 
  12%
 
   
Slightly familiar
 
  19%
 
   
Not at all familiar
 
  65%
 
   
 

American Jews 

General Public 

Very/ somewhat/ slightly familiar  

65%

35%

Not at all familiar

35%

65%

 

6b. 

Do you view the BDS movement as antisemitic?

American Jews

   
Antisemitic
  39%
 
 
   
Some antisemitic supporters
  47%
 
 
   
Not antisemitic
 
  12%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
 
  2%
 
   

*Asked of American Jews who are slightly, somewhat, or very familiar with the BDS movement.

General Public

   
Mostly antisemitic
  38%
 
 
   
Some antisemitic supporters
  50%
 
 
   
Not antisemitic
 
  12%
 
   

*Asked of general public participants who are slightly, somewhat, or very familiar with the BDS movement.

 

American Jews 

General Public 

Mostly antisemitic/ Some antisemitic supporters  

86%

88%

Not antisemitic

12%

12%

Don't know/ refused

2%

--

 

7a. 

Do you view the statement, “Israel has no right to exist,” as antisemitic or not?

American Jews

   
Yes, antisemitic
  87%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  12%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
 
  *
 
   

General Public

   
Yes, antisemitic
  90%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  10%
 
   
 

American Jews 

General Public 

Antisemitic 

87%

90%

Not antisemitic

12%

10%

Don't know/ refused

--

--

 

7b. 

Do you view the statement, “Jews control the media,” as antisemitic or not?

American Jews

   
Yes, antisemitic
  90%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  10%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
 
  *
 
   

General Public

   
Yes, antisemitic
  66%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  34%
 
   
 

American Jews 

General Public 

Antisemitic 

90%

66%

Not antisemitic

10%

34%

Don't know/ refused

--

0%

 

7c. 

Do you view the statement “Covid-19 protocols such as vaccine and mask mandates are similar to what Jews experienced during the Holocaust,” as antisemitic or not?

American Jews

   
Yes, antisemitic
  58%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
  41%
 
 
   
Don't know/ refused
 
  1%
 
   

General Public

   
Yes, antisemitic
  44%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
  56%
 
 
   
 

American Jews 

General Public 

Antisemitic 

58%

44%

Not antisemitic

41%

56%

Don’t know/ refused

1%

--

 

 

 

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[1] This was a prescreened sample from our Omnibus survey, which is a national, weekly dual-frame bilingual telephone survey designed to meet standards of quality associated with custom research studies. Similar to previous surveys, we included samples where someone in the household had been identified as Jewish in a previous Omnibus survey.

[2] SSRS Opinion Panel members are recruited randomly based on nationally representative ABS (Address Based Sample) design (including Hawaii and Alaska). Additionally, we recruit hard-to-reach demographic groups via our Omnibus survey platform. For more information: https://ssrs.com/opinion-panel/.

[3] SSRS Opinion Panel members are recruited randomly based on nationally representative ABS (Address Based Sample) design (including Hawaii and Alaska). Additionally, we recruit hard-to-reach demographic groups via our Omnibus survey platform. For more information: https://ssrs.com/opinion-panel/.