Jewish Americans and Antisemitism How their Views Compare with the Rest of America

Key Findings:

This study aims to address the following question: how can empirical research shed light on issues involving the relationship between Israel and Jewish Americans?

The events surrounding the taking of hostages at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, on January 15, 2022, by Malik Faisal Akram, a 44-year-old British Pakistani armed with a pistol, received considerable attention and live coverage in the United States.

JCPA administered two surveys simultaneously between February 1 and February 6, 2022, close enough after the Colleyville events to remain “fresh” in people’s memory and far enough away after initial media attention to allow for reflection and internalization of the ramifications of the experience.

Among the general population sample, nearly 42% identified as Democrat and 28% as Republican. Among the Jewish population, 45% identified as Democrat and nearly 34% as Republican. Survey data suggests: 

• While still holding right-wing sources more responsible for antisemitism, there is a perceptible increase in sentiment among Americans, especially Jewish Americans, of antisemitism emanating from left-wing or “woke,” progressive sources.

• Antisemitism appears to be reported mainly as a verbal phenomenon rather than in the form of violent or physical attacks.

• Antisemitism does not appear to be perceived as more frequent or intense than other “hate-related” sentiments. While community leaders are attuned to the dangers of attacks on Jewish institutions, the feeling among Jewish Americans and Americans, in general, appears to be that synagogues are not substantially less safe than other houses of worship.

• Both research samples felt that Jewish Americans should maintain independence in separating support for Israel from support for specific policies or behavior they may disagree with.

• There is an overwhelming lack of awareness among both samples of specific programs or activities by Jewish organizations against antisemitism.

• There may be a tendency among a significant minority of Jewish Americans to differentiate anti-Jewish from anti-Israel behavior.

• Some consideration should be given both to the data (especially among a significant minority of the Jewish American sample) showing a cognitive differentiation between “anti-Jewish” and “anti-Israel” behavior as well as the notion that such differentiation and the rejection of a distinct Jewish national identity may enable antisemitic activity masked as “anti-Zionism.”