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A Survey Portrait of Jewish Life on Campus in the Midst of the Israel-Hamas War 7 Key Findings
Topic:
Antisemitism & Antizionism, Israel & Regional Politics
Principal Investigators:
Eitan Hersh
Study Date:
2024
Source:
Jim Joseph Foundation
Key Findings:
The October 7th attack in Israel and its aftermath had significant effects on Jewish students on American university campuses. A detailed survey of approximately 1,000 Jewish students and 1,500 non-Jewish students conducted in late 2023 highlighted seven major impacts:
There was a marked increase in Jewish students feeling closer to their community. In 2022, 17% felt very close to a Jewish community, which doubled to 35% by late 2023. Among a specific panel of students surveyed in both 2022 and 2023, the percentage feeling very close increased from 26% to 43%.
Participation in Jewish campus activities rose significantly, with fewer students reporting they seldom or never attend Jewish programs (down from 46% in 2022 to 25% in 2023). However, there was an increase in students feeling the need to hide their opinions at these activities due to tensions arising from diverse political views.
More Jewish students formed opinions about Israel, with fewer students unsure about the existence of a Jewish state (down from 36% in 2022 to 15% in 2023). Support for the Jewish state increased among those who had an opinion.
A high percentage of Jewish students (80%) closely followed news about the conflict, compared to 48% of non-Jewish students. Jewish students were more likely to post about the conflict on social media, particularly those with robust Jewish backgrounds (50%).
One-third of Jewish students attended pro-Israel events, with higher attendance among those with stronger Jewish backgrounds (52%). Attendance at pro-Palestine events was less common among Jewish students (10%) but more frequent among Muslim students (44%).
Both Jewish (44%) and Muslim (41%) students reported declines in mental health due to the war, compared to only 15% of other students. Common issues included difficulty focusing on schoolwork, feelings of alienation, and strained relationships with friends.
41% of Jewish students reported being targeted by antisemitic messages since the conflict began, with incidents occurring on social media, off-campus, in campus social environments, and in academic settings.
The data suggests a complex landscape where Jewish students are more engaged and connected to their community but also face increased tensions, mental health challenges, and antisemitism. The long-term impact on Jewish identity and community participation remains to be seen, with future surveys planned to monitor these developments. The Jewish community and campus leaders must address these challenges to support students' well-being and foster a positive campus climate.
Methodology:
This report emerges from a survey of approximately 1,000 Jewish students conducted in November and December of 2023 and a companion survey of about 1,500 non-Jewish students. The data comes from a project funded by the Jim Joseph Foundation and implemented by the survey firm, College Pulse.
There are a few important points to know about the methodology in the series. First, in some of the analyses in this report, the focus is not on the full set of students surveyed in 2023, but specifically on the 155 Jewish students who took both the 2022 survey (when they were freshmen and sophomores) and the 2023 survey (when they were juniors and seniors). This group is referred to as the “panel.” This group shows us changes in attitudes in the same students over time.
Second, the sample of non-Jewish students is not meant to be representative of all non-Jewish four-year college students. Rather, non-Jewish students who attend colleges and universities that have large Jewish populations were sampled. There are a few questions for which the researcher analyzes Muslim students, of whom 64 took the survey. The Muslim student sample is small but revealing because in some ways these students were affected similarly to Jewish students.
Third, the researcher analyzed how results vary by Jewish background by creating a statistical model that measures how much “Jewish stuff” these students did when they were growing up (e.g., a bar mitzvah, Shabbat practices, cultural activities).