The State of Antisemitism in America 2023: AJC's Survey of American Jews

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2023 Report: Survey of American Jews, conducted by the research company SSRS, is based on interviews conducted by telephone and online from October 5 - November 21, 2023, among a nationally representative sample of 1,528 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 +/-3.2 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.

*Please note: Most interviews were completed after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel and open-ended responses to specific questions indicate that current events were top-of-mind for many respondents. It is important to consider this context when reviewing the survey data.

*Please note: certain sums may not total 100% due to rounding^[3]. An asterisk (*) indicates a number less than 1%.

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


A very serious problem	53%

Somewhat of a problem	41%

Not much of a problem	6%

Not a problem at all	1%

Don't know/ refused	*

A problem - 93%
Not a problem - 6%
Don’t know/ refused – *

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


Increased a lot	50%

Increased somewhat	37%

Stayed the same	12%

Decreased a little	1%

Decreased a lot	1%

Don't know/ refused	*

Increased - 86%
Decreased - 2%
Stayed the same - 12%
Don’t know/ refused – *

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	3%

Less secure than a year ago	63%

About the same as a year ago	34%

Don’t know/ refused	*

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	18%

Less seriously	47%

Considered to be the same	34%

Don’t know/ refused	1%

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


Antisemitism affects society as a whole; everyone is responsible for combating it	95%



Antisemitism does not affect society as a whole; Jews alone are responsible for combating it	5%

Don’t know/ refused	*

6a.	Over the past 12 months, have you, yourself, been the target of an antisemitic attack in person, during which the attacker physically touched you?


Yes, one time	1%

Yes, more than one time	2%

No	97%

Don't know/ refused	0%

Yes - 3%
No - 97%
Don't know/ refused - 0%

*Please note: 3% is a weighted figure reflecting 41 American Jews who reported that they had been the target of an antisemitic attack in person, during which the attacker physically touched them, out of an overall sample of 1,528. See the methodology report to learn more about how this data is weighted.

6b.	Over the past 12 months, have you, yourself, been the target of an antisemitic remark in person?


Yes, one time	10%

Yes, more than one time	12%

No	78%

Don't know/ refused	0%

Yes - 22%
No - 78%
Don't know/ refused - 0%

6c.	Over the past 12 months, have you, yourself, been the target of antisemitic vandalism to, or messaging (such as flyers or pamphlets) left on your personal property?


Yes, one time	4%

Yes, more than one time	3%

No	93%

Don't know/ refused	0%

Yes - 7%
No - 93%
Don't know/ refused - 0%

In all, 25% of American Jews say they were a target of an antisemitic incident—a physical attack, a remark in person, or antisemitic vandalism or messaging—in 2023.

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


Yes, to the police	3%

Yes, to a Jewish organization	8%

Yes, to family and friends	5%

Yes, to manager/ HR/ work	3%

Yes, to Facebook/ online/ social media (any)	1%

Yes, to school/ school administration/ school board	1%

Yes, somewhere else	5%

No, I did not report it	79%

Yes, reported anywhere - 21%
No, did not report anywhere - 79%

8a.	Over the past 12 months, have you seen or heard any antisemitic content (such as comments or posts) online or on social media? This could be something directed at you, personally, or something you’ve observed.


Yes, one time	6%

Yes, more than one time	56%

No	38%

Don't know/ refused	*

8b.	Did this online incident or any of these online incidents make you feel physically threatened?


Yes	22%

No	78%

Don't know/ refused	*

*Asked of American Jews who experienced antisemitism online at least once over the past 12 months.

9.	Where did you see or hear an antisemitic remark or post in the past 12 months?


Facebook	51%

X (formerly known as Twitter)	47%

Youtube	24%

Instagram	27%

TikTok	18%

Online gaming platforms	11%

The news*	59%

Other social media or online platform	5%

*Respondents were asked to not include news stories reporting on antisemitic incidents.

**Asked of American Jews who said they were the target of antisemitic remarks online or on social media or said they have seen antisemitic content online or on social media in the past 12 months.

10.	Did you report this incident or any of these incidents to this social media or online platform(s)?


Yes, reported incident to platform(s)	35%

No, did not report incident to platform(s)	65%

*Asked of American Jews who said they were the target of antisemitic remarks online or on social media or said they have seen antisemitic content online or on social media in the past 12 months.

11a.	As a user of a social media or online platform(s), how important is it to you, if at all, that social media companies explicitly cover antisemitism in the platform(s)’s terms of service and community standards?


Very important	62%

Somewhat important	27%

Not too important	7%

Not at all important	3%

Don’t know/ refused	1%

Important - 89%
Not important - 10%
Don’t know/ refused - 1%

*Asked of American Jews who said they were the target of antisemitic remarks online or on social media or said they have seen antisemitic content online or on social media in the past 12 months.

11b.	As a user of a social media or online platform(s), how important is it to you, if at all, that social media companies make it easy to specifically report antisemitism?


Very important	60%

Somewhat important	30%

Not too important	8%

Not at all important	2%

Don’t know/ refused	*

Important - 90%
Not important - 10%
Don’t know/ refused - *

*Asked of American Jews who said they were the target of antisemitic remarks online or on social media or said they have seen antisemitic content online or on social media in the past 12 months.

12a.	How concerned are you, if at all, that generative artificial intelligence (AI) or automated systems, such as ChatGPT, spread misinformation about Jews?


Very concerned	32%

Somewhat concerned	40%

Not too concerned	19%

Not at all concerned	8%

Don’t know/ refused	1%

Concerned - 72%
Not concerned - 27%
Don’t know/ refused - 1%

12b.	How concerned are you, if at all, that generative artificial intelligence (AI) or automated systems, such as ChatGPT, show bias against Israel?


Very concerned	26%

Somewhat concerned	36%

Not too concerned	25%

Not at all concerned	12%

Don’t know/ refused	1%

Concerned - 62%
Not concerned - 37%
Don’t know/ refused - 1%

13a.	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	26%

No	73%

Don’t know/ refused	*

13b.	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	26%

No	74%

Don’t know/ refused	0%

13c.	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	30%

No	69%

Don’t know/ refused	*

In all, 46% of American Jews avoided at least one behavior in the past 12 months out of fear of antisemitism.

14.	How much did you hear, if anything, about Kanye West (Ye) making a series of comments about Jewish people during interviews and on social media in the Fall of 2022?


A lot	40%

Some	38%

Not much	11%

Nothing at all	11%

Don’t know/ refused	*

15.	How much did you hear, if anything, about West’s comments leading to real life antisemitic incidents?


A lot	12%

Some	35%

Not much	33%

Nothing at all	20%

Don’t know/ refused	1%

A lot/ some - 46%
Not much/ nothing at all - 52%
Don’t know/ refused - 1%

16.	How much have you heard, if anything, about Jewish American Heritage Month?


A lot	4%

Some	20%

Not much	35%

Nothing at all	42%

Don’t know/ refused	*

A lot/ some - 24%
Not much/ nothing at all - 76%
Don’t know/ refused - *

17.	How much have you heard, if anything, about the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism published by the White House in May 2023?


A lot	2%

Some	15%

Not much	27%

Nothing at all	56%

Don’t know/ refused	*

A lot/ some - 17%
Not much/ nothing at all - 83%
Don’t know/ refused - *

18a.	How important is it to you, if at all, that public schools invest more resources in teaching age-appropriate lessons about the Holocaust for all students?


Very important	64%

Somewhat important	27%

Not too important	6%

Not at all important	3%

Don’t know/ refused	*

Important - 91%
Not important - 8%
Don’t know/ refused - *

18b.	How important is it to you, if at all, that statewide studies are conducted to assess how effectively public school districts are teaching the Holocaust?


Very important	59%

Somewhat important	28%

Not too important	10%

Not at all important	3%

Don’t know/ refused	*

Important - 87%
Not important - 13%
Don’t know/ refused - *

18c.	How important is it to you, if at all, that state and local governments include contemporary antisemitism in public school curricula?


Very important	48%

Somewhat important	38%

Not too important	10%

Not at all important	4%

Don’t know/ refused	1%

Important - 86%
Not important - 13%
Don’t know/ refused - 1%

18d.	How important is it to you, if at all, that state and local governments include Jewish studies within the ethnic studies or history curricula in public schools?


Very important	37%

Somewhat important	39%

Not too important	17%

Not at all important	6%

Don’t know/ refused	*

Important - 77%
Not important - 23%
Don’t know/ refused - *

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


Antisemitic graffiti	17%

Antisemitic attacks	6%

Antisemitic threats	18%

None of these	21%

Not affiliated with any Jewish institutions	38%

Not sure	16%

Don’t know/ refused	0%

In all, 25% of American Jews said that Jewish institutions with which they are affiliated had been targeted by antisemitism over the past five years.

20.	In the past five years, have any of the Jewish institutions you are affiliated with increased security measures or is security about the same?


Increased	64%

About the same	22%

Not affiliated	6%

Don’t know/ refused	8%

*Asked of American Jews affiliated with Jewish institutions.

21.	Thinking about when you attend any of the Jewish institutions with which you are affiliated, how safe, if at all, do you feel with regards to antisemitism?


Very safe	24%

Somewhat safe	45%

Somewhat unsafe	17%

Very unsafe	5%

Not affiliated	6%

Don’t know/ refused	3%

Safe - 69%
Unsafe - 22%
Not affiliated - 6%
Don’t know/ refused - 3%

*Asked of Jews affiliated with a synagogue or Jewish institutions.

22.	In the past five years, to the best of your knowledge, have any local businesses where you live been targets of antisemitism, such as graffiti or broken windows?


Yes, one time	6%

Yes, more than one time	13%

No	44%

Don’t know/ refused	37%

No answer	*

Yes - 19%
No - 44%
Don’t know/ refused - 37%

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


Very effective	14%

Somewhat effective	52%

Not too effective	26%

Not at all effective	7%

Don’t know/ refused	1%

Effective - 65%
Not effective - 34%
Don’t know/ refused - 1%

24a.	How strongly do you approve or disapprove of the way President Biden is responding to antisemitism in the United States?


Approve strongly	24%

Approve somewhat	33%

Disapprove somewhat	14%

Disapprove strongly	13%

No opinion	15%

Don’t know/ refused	*

	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective office.

Approve - 57%
Disapprove - 27%
No opinion - 15%
Don’t know/ refused - *

24b.	How strongly do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is responding to antisemitism in the United States?


Approve strongly	3%

Approve somewhat	23%

Disapprove somewhat	30%

Disapprove strongly	22%

No opinion	21%

Don’t know/ refused	1%

	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective office.

Approve - 26%
Disapprove - 52%
No opinion - 21%
Don’t know/ refused - 1%

24c.	How strongly do you approve or disapprove of the way your state and local government is responding to antisemitism in the United States?


Approve strongly	13%

Approve somewhat	35%

Disapprove somewhat	20%

Disapprove strongly	13%

No opinion	19%

Don’t know/ refused	1%

	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective office.

Approve - 47%
Disapprove - 33%
No opinion - 19%
Don’t know/ refused - 1%

25.	How important is it, if at all, that law enforcement be required to report hate crimes to a federal government database?


Very important	71%

Somewhat important	22%

Not too important	5%

Not at all important	2%

Don’t know/ refused	*

Important - 93%
Not important - 6%
Don’t know/ refused - *

*A hate crime is a crime of prejudice or bigotry that occurs when an offender targets someone because of one or more of their characteristics or religious beliefs.

Currently, law enforcement agencies are not required to report hate crimes to the federal government’s crime reporting database, which tracks detailed information about crimes in the U.S.

26a.	In the past 12 months have you ever avoided expressing your views on Israel in your workplace or with colleagues because of fears of antisemitism?


Yes, one time	5%

Yes, more than one time	19%

No	76%

Don’t know/ refused	*