Digital Library
2017 AJC Survey of Jewish Public Opinion
Topic:
General/Other, Antisemitism & Antizionism, Jewish Diaspora & Interfaith Relations
Principal Investigators:
SSRS
Study Date:
2017
Source:
American Jewish Committee (AJC)
Key Findings:
The 2017 AJC Annual Survey of American Jewish Opinion utilized a survey to measure the opinions of 1,000 Jewish Americans, including the opinions of Jewish Americans about President Trump. The goal of the survey was to elicit opinions on political and religious attitudes and beliefs from people of Jewish faith or background. In addition, opinion questions about anti-Semitism, global issues and Israel were also included in the 2017 study.
According to AJC’s press release, the survey shows that 77% of American Jews surveyed had unfavorable opinions of President Trump: "AJC’s Annual Survey of American Jewish Opinion indicates widespread dissatisfaction with President Trump’s performance in office.” In the 2016 presidential election, 64% of survey respondents voted for Hillary Clinton and 18% for Donald Trump.
Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews differ in their views on President Trump’s performance. Those who identify as Orthodox were the most supportive of Trump on Election Day and continue to give him high marks. 54% of the Orthodox say they voted for Trump, compared to 24% of Conservative, 10% of Reform, 8% of Reconstructionist, and 14% of respondents who identify themselves as “Just Jewish.”
The 2017 survey recorded a significant jump in the number of those who view anti-Semitism as a problem in America: 84% say it is a problem, and 41% consider it a “very serious” problem. Similarly, the percentage considering anti-Semitism on the college campus a problem rose to 69% this year in 2017.
Methodology:
The American Jewish Committee contracted with SSRS to conduct the Jewish Opinion Survey from August 10 through August 28, 2017.
The study collected data from a nationally representative sample of 1,000 respondents ages 18 or older and of Jewish religion or background. The sample consisted of a landline component (n = 492) and a cell phone component (n = 508).
Additionally, the data from this project were weighted to reflect nationally representative estimates of the adult Jewish population. Accounting for sample size and design effect, the margin of sampling error for this study was +/-3.71%.