A comparison of the State of Antisemitism in America 2020: Survey of American Jews and The State of Antisemitism in America 2020: Survey of the General Public.

The State of Antisemitism in America 2020: Survey of American Jews, conducted by the research company SSRS, is based on telephone interviews carried out September 9 - October 4, with a national sample of 1,334 Jews over age 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.2%. AJC’s 2020 Survey of the General Public on Antisemitism, conducted by the research company SSRS, is based on telephone interviews carried out September 15 – September 20, with a national sample of 1,010 people over age 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.7%. AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective office.

<< Download a copy of the 2020 results here >>

1. 

How much of a problem, if at all, do you think antisemitism is in the United States today?

American Jews

   
A very serious problem
  37%
 
 
   
Somewhat of a problem
  51%
 
 
   
Not much of a problem
  10%
 
   
Not a problem at all
  1%
 
   

General Public

   
A very serious problem
 
  19%
 
   
Somewhat of a problem
  43%
 
 
   
Not much of a problem
  23%
 
   
Not a problem at all
  10%
 
   
 

A Problem 

Not a Problem 

American Jews 

88%

11%

General Public 

62%

33%

 

2. 

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

American Jews

   
Increased a lot
  43%
 
 
   
Increased somewhat
  39%
 
 
   
Stayed the same
  14%
 
   
Decreased a little
  2%
 
   
Decreased a lot
  1%
 
   

General Public

   
Increased a lot
 
  15%
 
   
Increased somewhat
  28%
 
 
   
Stayed the same
  39%
 
 
   
Decreased a little
  9%
 
   
Decreased a lot
  5%
 
   
 

Increased 

Stayed the same

Decreased 

American Jews 

82%

*

3%

General Public 

43%

39%

14%

 

3. 

Over the past five years, have you been the target of an antisemitic physical attack, an antisemitic remark in person, by mail, or by phone, or an antisemitic remark online or through social media?

American Jews

   
Yes
  37%
 
 
   
Not a target/Don’t know
  63%
 
 
   

    

Compare to results of this question, to the following asked of the General Public:

Over the past five years, have you seen any antisemitic incidents, such as negative remarks or online content about Jewish people, or physical attacks on Jewish people or their religious facilities?

General Public

   
Yes, one time
 
  12%
 
   
Yes, more than one time
  36%
 
 
   
No
  52%
 
   

Yes - 48%
No - 52%

 

4a. 

To what extent, if at all, do you think the Democratic Party holds antisemitic views?

American Jews

   
A lot
 
  11%
 
   
Some
  26%
 
 
   
Not much
  32%
 
 
   
Not at all
  29%
 
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  2%
 
   

General Public

   
A lot
 
  14%
 
   
Some
 
  28%
 
   
Not much
  27%
 
 
   
Not at all
  27%
 
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  5%
 
   
 

A lot/Some

Not much/at all 

Don't know/refused

American Jews 

37%

61%

2%

General Public 

42%

54%

5%

 

4b. 

To what extent, if at all, do you think the Republican Party holds antisemitic views?

American Jews

   
A lot
  27%
 
 
   
Some
  42%
 
 
   
Not much
 
  13%
 
   
Not at all
 
  15%
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  3%
 
   

General Public

   
A lot
 
  19%
 
   
Some
  33%
 
 
   
Not much
 
  18%
 
   
Not at all
  25%
 
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  5%
 
   
 

A lot/Some

Not much/at all 

Don't know/refused

American Jews 

69%

28%

3%

General Public 

52%

43%

5%

 

5a. 

How familiar are you with the BDS movement?

American Jews

   
Very familiar
 
  25%
 
   
Somewhat familiar
  36%
 
 
   
Not too familiar
 
  18%
 
   
Not at all familiar
 
  21%
 
   

General Public

   
Very familiar
 
  5%
 
   
Somewhat familiar
 
  20%
 
   
Not too familiar
  28%
 
 
   
Not at all familiar
  47%
 
 
   
 

Familiar 

Not familiar 

American Jews 

61%

39%

General Public 

25%

75%

 

5b. 

Do you view the BDS movement as antisemitic?

American Jews

   
Mostly antisemitic
  37%
 
 
   
Some antisemitic supporters
  43%
 
 
   
Not antisemitic
 
  15%
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  5%
 
   

General Public

   
Mostly antisemitic
 
  21%
 
   
Some antisemitic supporters
  47%
 
 
   
Not antisemitic
 
  19%
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  13%
 
   
 

Mostly antisemitic/
has antisemitic supporters

Not antisemitic 

Don't know

American Jews 

80%

15%

5%

General Public 

68%

19%

13%

 

6a. 

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

American Jews

   
Yes, antisemitic
  85%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  14%
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  1%
 
   

General Public

   
Yes, antisemitic
  74%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  21%
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  5%
 
   
 

Antisemitic

Not antisemitic 

Don't know

American Jews 

85%

14%

1%

General Public 

74%

21%

1%

 

6b. 

Do you view the statement, “The U.S. government only supports Israel because of Jewish money,” as antisemitic or not?

American Jews

   
Yes, antisemitic
  84%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  15%
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  1%
 
   

General Public

   
Yes, antisemitic
  55%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
  39%
 
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  6%
 
   
 

Antisemitic

Not antisemitic 

Don't know

American Jews 

84%

15%

1%

General Public 

55%

39%

6%

 

6c. 

Do you view the statement, “American Jews are more loyal to Israel than to America,” as antisemitic or not?

American Jews

   
Yes, antisemitic
  76%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  22%
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  2%
 
   

General Public

   
Yes, antisemitic
  50%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
  43%
 
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  7%
 
   
 

Antisemitic

Not antisemitic 

Don't know

American Jews 

76%

22%

2%

General Public 

50%

43%

7%

 

7a. 

How much do you know about the Holocaust?

American Jews

   
A lot
  84%
 
 
   
Some
 
  15%
 
   
Not much
 
  0%
 
   
Not at all
 
  0%
 
   

General Public

   
A lot
  37%
 
 
   
Some
  38%
 
 
   
Not much
 
  14%
 
   
Nothing at all
 
  10%
 
   
 

A lot/Some 

Not much/ Nothing (Not) at all 

American Jews 

99%

0%

General Public 

75%

24%

 

7b. 

How important do you think it is for schools to teach middle and high school students the history of the Holocaust?

American Jews

   
Very important
  91%
 
 
   
Somewhat important
  8%
 
   
Not too important
 
  0%
 
   
Not at all important
 
  0%
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  1%
 
   

General Public

   
Very important
  68%
 
 
   
Somewhat important
  22%
 
   
Not too important
 
  6%
 
   
Not at all important
 
  2%
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  1%
 
   
 

Important

Not Important 

Don't know

American Jews 

99%

0%

1%

General Public 

90%

8%

1%

 

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<< Download a copy of the 2020 results here >>