The State of Antisemitism in America 2021: Survey of American Jews, conducted by the research company SSRS, is based on interviews conducted by telephone and online from September 1 – October 3, 2021, among a nationally representative sample of 1,433 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 +/-3.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Find the methodology report here. American Jewish Committee (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.[3]

<< Download a copy of the 2021 results here >>

1. 

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

   
A very serious problem
  40%
 
 
   
Somewhat of a problem
  50%
 
 
   
Not much of a problem
  8%
 
   
Not a problem at all
  2%
 
   

A Problem - 90%
Not a Problem - 10%

 

2. 

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

   
Increased a lot
  37%
 
 
   
Increased somewhat
  45%
 
 
   
Stayed the same
  14%
 
   
Decreased a little
  2%
 
   
Decreased a lot
  1%
 
   

Increased - 82%
Decreased - 3%
Stayed the same - 14%

 

3. 

Compared to a year ago, is the status of Jews in the United States more secure or less secure?

   
More secure than a year ago
  11%
 
   
Less secure than a year ago
  31%
 
 
   
About the same as a year ago
  57%
 
 
   
Don’t know/ refused
  1%
 
   

 

4. 

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?

   
More seriously
  16%
 
   
Less seriously
  46%
 
 
   
Considered to be the same
  37%
 
 
   
Don’t know/ refused
  1%
 
   

 

5a. 

What social media platforms, if any, have you used in the past 12 months?

   
Facebook
  65%
 
 
   
Youtube
  61%
 
 
   
Instagram
  46%
 
 
   
Twitter
  36%
 
 
   
Tiktok
 
  19%
 
   
Snapchat
 
  16%
 
   
Clubhouse
 
  2%
 
   
Other
 
  2%
 
   
Do not use any social media
 
  17%
 
   

 

5b. 

Over the past 12 months, have you, yourself, been the target of an antisemitic remark or post online or through social media?

   
Yes, one time
 
  5%
 
   
Yes, more than one time
 
  7%
 
   
No
  88%
 
 
   

Yes - 12%
No - 88%

 

5c. 

On which platform were you the target of an antisemitic remark or post in the past 12 months?

   
Facebook
  55%
 
 
   
Youtube
 
  11%
 
   
Instagram
 
  10%
 
   
Twitter
  35%
 
 
   
Tiktok
 
  4%
 
   
Snapchat
 
  *
 
   
Clubhouse
 
  5%
 
   
Other
 
  11%
 
   
   

*Asked of American Jews who said they were targeted by antisemitism online or on social media.

 

5d. 

If you were the target of an antisemitic remark or post in the past 12 months did you report it?

   
Reported incident
  42%
 
 
   
Did not report incident
  58%
 
 
   

 

5e. 

Did the social media platform remove any of the content you reported?

   
Content was removed
  36%
 
 
   
Content was not removed
  64%
 
   

*Asked of American Jews who said they were targeted by antisemitism online or on social media.

 

5f. 

Did your experience with antisemitism online make you feel physically threatened?

   
Yes
 
  18%
 
   
No
  82%
 
   

*Asked of American Jews who said they were targeted by antisemitism online or on social media.

 

6a. 

Over the past 12 months, have you, yourself, been the target of an antisemitic physical attack?

   
Yes, one time
 
  1%
 
   
Yes, more than one time
 
  2%
 
   
No
  97%
 
   

Yes - 3%
No - 97%

*Please note: 3% is a rounded figure from 2.6%, reflecting 37 American Jews (including 25 from the South) who reported that they had been physically attacked over the past year, out of an overall sample of 1,433.

 

6b. 

Over the past 12 months, have you, yourself, been the target of an antisemitic remark in person?

   
Yes, one time
 
  9%
 
   
Yes, more than one time
 
  8%
 
   
No
  83%
 
 
   

Yes - 17%
No - 83%

 

6c. 

Over the past 12 months, have you, yourself, been the target of an antisemitic remark or post online or through social media?

   
Yes, one time
 
  5%
 
   
Yes, more than one time
 
  7%
 
   
No
  88%
 
 
   

Yes - 12%
No - 88%

In all, 24% of American Jews have been the targets of antisemitic incidents - physical attacks, remarks in person, or remarks online- in 2021.

 

7a. 

Over the past 12 months, if you, yourself, were the target of an antisemitic remark online or on social media, did you report this incident or any of these incidents?

   
Yes, to the police
 
  5%
 
   
Yes, to a Jewish organization
 
  17%
 
   
Yes, through social media
  45%
 
 
   
No, I did not report it
  46%
 
 
   

 

7b. 

Over the past 12 months, if you, yourself, were the target of an antisemitic remark in person, did you report this incident or any of these incidents?

   
Yes, to the police
 
  4%
 
   
Yes, to a Jewish organization
 
  19%
 
   
No, I did not report it
  79%
 
 
   

 

8a. 

In the past 12 months, have you avoided publicly wearing, carrying, or displaying things that might help people identify you as a Jew out of fear of antisemitism?

   
Yes
 
  22%
 
   
No
  78%
 
 
   

 

8b. 

In the past 12 months, have you avoided certain places, events, or situations out of concern for your safety or comfort as a Jew out of fear of antisemitism?

   
Yes
 
  17%
 
   
No
  83%
 
 
   

 

8c. 

In the past 12 months, have you avoided posting content online that would identify you as a Jew or reveal your views on Jewish issues out of fear of antisemitism?

   
Yes
 
  25%
 
   
No
  74%
 
 
   
Don’t know/ refused
 
  1%
 
   

In all, 39% of American Jews have changed their behavior out of fear of antisemitism in the last 12 months.

 

9a. 

How much, if anything, have you heard about Jews being attacked in the United States and around the world in May 2021 during the conflict between Israel and Hamas?

   
A lot
  28%
 
 
   
Some
  43%
 
 
   
Not much
 
  21%
 
   
Nothing at all
 
  7%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
 
  1%
 
   

A lot/ some - 71%
Not much/ nothing at all - 28%
Don't know/ refused - 1%

 

9b. 

To what extent, if at all, has hearing about these attacks on Jews made you feel less safe as a Jewish person in the United States?

   
A great deal
 
  8%
 
   
A fair amount
 
  24%
 
   
A little
  40%
 
 
   
Not at all
 
  27%
 
   

Feel less safe - 72%
Do not feel less safe - 27%

*Asked of American Jews who have heard a lot or some about Jews being attacked in May 2021 during the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

 

10. 

Over the past five years, have any Jewish institutions with which you are affiliated been targets of antisemitism?

   
Antisemitic graffiti 
 
  17%
 
   
Antisemitic attacks 
 
  9%
 
   
Antisemitic threats 
 
  12%
 
   
None of these
  40%
 
 
   
Not affiliated with any Jewish institutions
 
  24%
 
   
Don’t know
 
  12%
 
   

In all, 24% of American Jews said that Jewish institutions with which they are affiliated had been targeted by antisemitism over the past five years.

 

11. 

How effective do you think law enforcement is in responding to the security needs of American Jews?

   
Very effective
 
  17%
 
   
Somewhat effective
  49%
 
 
   
Not too effective
 
  23%
 
   
Not at all effective
 
  8%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
  3%
 
   

Effective - 66%
Not effective - 31%
Don't know/ refused - 3%

 

12a. 

Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Biden is responding to antisemitism in the United States?

   
Approve strongly
 
  17%
 
   
Approve somewhat
  36%
 
 
   
Disapprove somewhat
 
  14%
 
   
Disapprove strongly
 
  14%
 
   
No opinion
 
  16%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
 
  3%
 
   

Approve - 53%
Disapprove - 28%
No opinion - 16%
Don't know/ refused - 3%

 

12b. 

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is responding to antisemitism in the United States?

   
Approve strongly
 
  3%
 
   
Approve somewhat
 
  25%
 
   
Disapprove somewhat
 
  27%
 
   
Disapprove strongly
 
  23%
 
   
No opinion
 
  18%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
 
  3%
 
   

Approve - 28%
Disapprove - 50%
No opinion - 18%
Don't know/ refused - 3%

 

12c. 

Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democratic Party is responding to antisemitism in the United States?

   
Approve strongly
 
  11%
 
   
Approve somewhat
  34%
 
 
   
Disapprove somewhat
 
  21%
 
   
Disapprove strongly
 
  19%
 
   
No opinion
 
  13%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
 
  4%
 
   

Approve - 45%
Disapprove - 40%
No opinion - 13%
Don't know/ refused - 4%

 

12d. 

Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republican Party is responding to antisemitism in the United States?

   
Approve strongly
 
  6%
 
   
Approve somewhat
 
  14%
 
   
Disapprove somewhat
 
  20%
 
   
Disapprove strongly
  45%
 
 
   
No opinion
 
  12%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
 
  3%
 
   

Approve - 20%
Disapprove - 65%
No opinion - 12%
Don't know/ refused - 3%

 

12e. 

Do you approve or disapprove of the way state and local governments are responding to antisemitism in the United States?

   
Approve strongly
 
  8%
 
   
Approve somewhat
  34%
 
 
   
Disapprove somewhat
 
  24%
 
   
Disapprove strongly
 
  12%
 
   
No opinion
 
  17%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
 
  6%
 
   

Approve - 42%
Disapprove - 36%
No opinion - 17%
Don't know/ refused - 6%

 

13a. 

In your view, how much of an antisemitic threat does the extreme political right represent in the United States today?

   
Very serious threat
  45%
 
 
   
Moderately serious threat
  28%
 
 
   
Slight threat
  18%
 
   
No threat at all
 
  7%
 
   
Don’t know/ refused
  2%
 
   

A threat - 91%
Not a threat - 7%
Don't know/ refused - 2%

 

13b. 

In your view, how much of an antisemitic threat does the extreme political left represent in the United States today?

   
Very serious threat
 
  19%
 
   
Moderately serious threat
 
  19%
 
   
Slight threat
  33%
 
 
   
No threat at all
 
  27%
 
   
Don’t know/ refused
 
  1%
 
   

A threat - 71%
Not a threat - 27%
Don't know/ refused - 1%

 

13c. 

In your view, how much of an antisemitic threat does extremism in the name of Islam represent in the United States today?

   
Very serious threat
 
  24%
 
   
Moderately serious threat
  28%
 
 
   
Slight threat
  34%
 
 
   
No threat at all
 
  13%
 
   
Don’t know/ refused
  1%
 
   

A threat - 86%
Not a threat - 13%
Don't know/ refused - 1%

 

14. 

In your view, how much of an antisemitic threat do individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups represent in the United States today?

   
Very serious threat
 
  10%
 
   
Moderately serious threat
 
  22%
 
   
Slight threat
 
  40%
 
   
No threat at all
 
  27%
 
   
Don’t know/refused
  2%
 
   

A threat - 72%
Not a threat - 27%
Don't know/refused - 2%

 

15a. 

How familiar are you with the BDS movement?

   
Very familiar
 
  23%
 
   
Somewhat familiar
  36%
 
 
   
Not too familiar
 
  15%
 
   
Not at all familiar
 
  26%
 
   

Very/somewhat familiar - 59%
Not too/not at all familiar - 41%

 

15b. 

Do you view the BDS movement as antisemitic?

   
Mostly antisemitic
  40%
 
 
   
Some antisemitic supporters
  42%
 
 
   
Not antisemitic
 
  15%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
 
  3%
 
   

Mostly antisemitic/ some antisemitic supporters - 82%
Not antisemitic - 15%
Don't know/ refused - 3%

*Asked of American Jews who expressed some familiarity with the BDS movement.

 

16a. 

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

   
Yes, antisemitic
  81%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  19%
 
   

 

16b. 

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

   
Yes, antisemitic
  85%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  14%
 
   

 

16c. 

Do you view the statement, “The Holocaust has been exaggerated,” as antisemitic or not?

   
Yes, antisemitic
  94%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  6%
 
   

 

17. 

Over the past five years, do you think antisemitism on college campuses has...

   
Increased a lot
 
  21%
 
   
Increased somewhat
  29%
 
 
   
Stayed the same
  23%
 
   
Decreased a little
  2%
 
   
Decreased a lot
  1%
 
   
Not sure
  23%
 
   

Increased - 50%
Decreased - 3%
Stayed the same - 23%
Not sure - 23%

 

18a. 

How much of a problem, if at all, do you think antisemitism from the far right is for Jewish college students in the United States today?

   
A very serious problem
 
  27%
 
   
Somewhat of a problem
  34%
 
 
   
Not much of a problem
 
  13%
 
   
Not a problem at all
 
  7%
 
   
Not sure
 
  18%
 
   

A Problem - 61%
Not a Problem - 20%
Not sure - 18%

 

18b. 

How much of a problem, if at all, do you think antisemitism from the far left is for Jewish college students in the United States today?

   
A very serious problem
 
  21%
 
   
Somewhat of a problem
 
  24%
 
   
Not much of a problem
 
  21%
 
   
Not a problem at all
 
  16%
 
   
Not sure
 
  19%
 
   

A Problem - 45%
Not a Problem - 37%
Not sure - 19%

 

18c. 

How much of a problem, if at all, do you think anti-Israel campaigns, such as the BDS movement, is for Jewish college students in the United States today?

   
A very serious problem
 
  24%
 
   
Somewhat of a problem
  30%
 
 
   
Not much of a problem
 
  15%
 
   
Not a problem at all
 
  9%
 
   
Not sure
 
  21%
 
   
Don't know/ refused
 
  1%
 
   

A Problem - 54%
Not a Problem - 24%
Not sure - 21%
Don't know/ refused - 1%

 

19. 

Over the past five years, have you or has anyone you know experienced antisemitism in a college setting?

   
Yes, me personally
 
  2%
 
   
Yes, someone I know
 
  15%
 
   
Yes, both myself and someone I know
 
  3%
 
   
No
  78%
 
 
   
Don’t know/ refused
 
  2%
 
   

Yes - 20%
No - 78%
Don’t know/ refused - 2%

*Note: A college setting includes both on campus as well as virtual or remote learning.

 


 

View More:

<< Download a copy of the 2021 results here >>

 


[1] This was 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 sample 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] Comprehensive and precise data available upon request.