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%. Find the methodology report here. AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective office.

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

1. 

How familiar are you with the term antisemitism?

   
Heard of it and know what it means
  53%
 
 
   
Heard the term, but unsure what it means
 
  25%
 
   
Have never heard of the term
 
  21%
 
   

Familiar - 53%
Not familiar - 46%

 

2. 

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

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

A Problem - 62%
Not a Problem - 33%

 

3. 

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

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

Increased - 43%
Stayed the same - 39%
Decreased - 14%

 

4. 

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?

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

Yes - 48%
No - 52%

 

5a. 

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

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

A lot/Some - 42%
Not much/at all - 54%
Don't know or refused - 5%

 

5b. 

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

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

A lot/Some - 52%
Not much/at all - 43%
Don't know or refused - 5%

 

6a. 

How familiar are you with the BDS movement?

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

Familiar - 25%
Not familiar - 75%

 

6b. 

Do you view the BDS movement as antisemitic?

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

Mostly antisemitic/has antisemitic supporters - 68%
Not antisemitic - 19%
Don't know - 13%

 

7a. 

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

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

 

7b. 

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

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

 

7c. 

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

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

 

8. 

If a Jewish person or organization considered a statement or idea to be antisemitic, would that make you (more likely) to consider it antisemitic, (less likely), or would it make no difference to you?

   
More likely
  25%
 
 
   
Less likely
 
  7%
 
   
No difference
  65%
 
 
   
Don't know/refused
 
  3%
 
   

 

9a. 

How much do you know about the Holocaust?

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

A lot/Some - 75%
Not much/ Nothing at all - 24%

 

9b. 

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

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

Important - 90%
Not Important - 8%
Don't know/refused - 1%

 

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