AJC Survey of American Jews on Antisemitism in America

AJC’s 2019 Survey of American Jewish Attitudes about Antisemitism, conducted by the research company SSRS, is based on telephone interviews carried out September 11 - October 6, with a national sample of 1,283 Jews over age 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.2%. Find the methodology report here

Download a copy of the 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	38%
Somewhat of a problem	50%
Not much of a problem	10%
Not a problem at all	2%

A Problem - 88% Not a Problem - 12%

 

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

Increased a lot	43%
Increased somewhat	41%
Stayed the same	12%
Decreased a little	3%
Decreased a lot	1%
Don’t know	1%

Increased - 84% Decreased - 4% Stayed the same - 12% Don't know - 1%

 

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	2%
Less secure than a year ago	42%
About the same as a year ago	55%
Don’t know	1%

 

4.	Compared to a year ago, is the climate on college campuses toward pro-Israel students less hostile, more hostile, or about the same as a year ago?

More hostile than a year ago	36%
Less hostile than a year ago	2%
About the same as a year ago	41%
Don’t know	20%

 

5a.	Over the past five years, have you, yourself, been the target of an antisemitic physical attack?

Yes, one time	2%
No	98%

 

5b.	Over the past five years, have you, yourself, been the target of an antisemitic remark in person, by mail, or by phone?

Yes, one time	10%
Yes, more than one time	13%
No	77%

Yes - 23% No - 77%

 

5c.	Over the past five years, have you, yourself, been the target of an antisemitic remark online or through social media?

Yes, one time	6%
Yes, more than one time	15%
No	80%

Yes - 21% No - 80%

 

6.	Over the past five years, if you, yourself, were the target of an antisemitic attack or remark, did you report this incident or any of these incidents?

Yes, to the police	3%
Yes, to a Jewish organization	6%
Yes, through social media	17%
No, I did not report it	75%
Don’t know	1%

Total reported incident - 24% Did not report incident - 75% Don't know or refused - 1%

5a./6. Over the past five years, if you were the target of an antisemitic physical attack, did you report this incident or any of these incidents?

Yes, to the police	1%
Yes, to a Jewish organization	1%

5b./6. Over the past five years, if you were the target of an antisemitic remark in person, by mail, or by phone, did you report this incident or any of these incidents?

Yes, to the police	1%
Yes, to a Jewish organization	1%
Yes, through social media	3%
No, I did not report it	18%

5c./6. Over the past five years, if you were the target of an antisemitic remark online or through social media, did you report this incident or any of these incidents?

Yes, to the police	1%
Yes, to a Jewish organization	1%
Yes, through social media	6%
No, I did not report it	13%

 

7.	Over the past five years, have you or anyone you know experienced antisemitism on a college campus?

Yes, you personally	1%
Yes, someone you know	16%
Yes, both myself and someone I know	3%
No, never	78%
Don’t know	2%

Yes - 20% No - 78% Don't know - 2%

 

8.	Do you ever avoid certain places, events, or situations out of concern for your safety or comfort as a Jew?

Yes, always	2%
Yes, frequently	4%
Yes, sometimes	19%
No, never	74%

Yes - 25% No - 74%

 

9a.	Have you avoided visiting Jewish institutions or participating in Jewish events because you would not feel safe there?

Yes	5%
No	95%

 

9b.	Have you avoided publicly wearing, carrying, or displaying things that might help people identify you as a Jew?

Yes	31%
No	68%
Refused	1%

 

10.	Have any Jewish institutions with which you are affiliated been targets of antisemitism?

Antisemitic graffiti	22%
Antisemitic attacks	8%
Antisemitic threats	17%
None of these	54%
Not affiliated with any Jewish institutions	11%
Don’t know	2%

Institutions have been a target - 33% Institutions have not been a target - 54% Not affiliated with any Jewish institutions - 11% Don't know or refused - 2%

 

11a.	Have any Jewish institutions with which you are affiliated hired security guards?

Yes	57%
No	32%
I don't visit or participate	1%
Not affiliated	6%
Don't know	4%

 

11b.	Have any Jewish institutions with which you are affiliated had police posted on site or outside?

Yes	52%
No	38%
I don't visit or participate	1%
Not affiliated	7%
Don't know	2%

 

11c.	Have any Jewish institutions with which you are affiliated trained or informed members on how to respond to an attack?

Yes	39%
No	45%
I don't visit or participate	1%
Not affiliated	7%
Don't know	8%

 

12a.	On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 meaning “no responsibility” and 10 meaning “total responsibility”, how much responsibility do you think the Democratic Party bears for the current level of antisemitism?

10-Total Responsibility	6%
9	3%
8	4%
7	5%
6	4%
5	12%
4	6%
3	10%
2	17%
1-No Responsibility	30%
Don't know	2%
	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

 

12b.	On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 meaning “no responsibility” and 10 meaning “total responsibility”, how much responsibility do you think the Republican Party bears for the current level of antisemitism?

10-Total Responsibility	17%
9	7%
8	18%
7	12%
6	7%
5	10%
4	5%
3	4%
2	5%
1-No Responsibility	14%
Don't know	2%
	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

 

13a.	In your view, how much of an antisemitic threat does the extreme political right represent in the United States today?

Very serious threat	49%
Moderately serious threat	29%
Slight threat	11%
No threat at all	9%
Don’t know	2%
	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

A threat - 89% Not a threat - 9% Don't know - 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	15%
Moderately serious threat	21%
Slight threat	28%
No threat at all	34%
Don’t know	2%
	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

A threat - 64% Not a threat - 34% Don't know - 2%

 

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	27%
Moderately serious threat	27%
Slight threat	31%
No threat at all	14%
Don’t know	1%
	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

A threat - 85% Not a threat - 14% Don't know - 1%

 

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

Very effective	34%
Somewhat effective	47%
Not too effective	11%
Not at all effective	4%
Don't know	4%

Effective - 81% Not effective - 15% Don't know - 4%

 

15.	How familiar are you with the BDS movement?

Very familiar	26%
Somewhat familiar	36%
Not too familiar	14%
Not at all familiar	24%

 

16.	Do you view the BDS movement as antisemitic?

Mostly antisemitic	35%
Some antisemitic supporters	47%
Not antisemitic	14%
Don't know	4%

Mostly antisemitic/has antisemitic supporters - 82% Not antisemitic - 14% Don't know - 4%

 

17a.	Do you view the following statement, “Israel has no right to exist,” as antisemitic or not?

Yes, antisemitic	84%
No, not antisemitic	15%

 

17b.	Do you view the following statement, “The U.S. government only supports Israel because of Jewish money,” as antisemitic or not?

Yes, antisemitic	80%
No, not antisemitic	20%
Don't know	1%

 

17c.	Do you view the following statement, “American Jews are more loyal to Israel than to America,” as antisemitic or not?

Yes, antisemitic	73%
No, not antisemitic	26%
Don't know	1%

 

18.	Where would you place yourself on this scale?

Liberal	41%
Lean Liberal	15%
Moderate, middle of the road	21%
Lean Conservative	8%
Conservative	13%
Don't know	1%
Refused	1%
	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

Liberal or lean liberal - 56% Conservative or lean conservative - 21% Moderate, middle of the road - 21% Don't know or refused - 2%

 

19.	In politics today, do you consider yourself...

Republican	14%
Democrat	53%
Independent	23%
Other	9%
	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

 

20.	In the presidential election of 2016, whom did you vote for?

Hillary Clinton	61%
Donald Trump	17%
Another candidate	7%
Didn't vote	13%
Refused	1%
	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

 

21.	Is your opinion of the job President Trump is doing favorable or unfavorable?

Favorable	22%
Unfavorable	76%
Don't know	2%
	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

 

22.	Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Trump is handling the threat of antisemitism in the United States?

Strongly approve	11%
Somewhat approve	13%
Somewhat disapprove	11%
Strongly disapprove	62%
Don't know	4%
Refused	1%
	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

Approve - 24% Disapprove - 73% Don't know or refused - 5%

 

23.	How important is being Jewish in your life?

Very important	40%
Somewhat important	38%
Not too important	16%
Not at all important	5%

Important - 78% Not important - 21%

 

24.	Do you identify as...?

Haredi [Ultra-Orthodox]	7%
Modern Orthodox	3%
Conservative	12%
Reform	26%
Reconstructionist	6%
Secular	41%
Don't know	4%

 

24a.	What is your current marital status?

Unmarried	46%
Married to a born Jew	25%
Married to a convert to Judaism	4%
Married to a non-Jew	23%
Don't know	1%

 

Download a copy of the results here