Survey of Bay Area Jewish Identity

Key Findings:

This study is a major review of the way Bay Area Jews view themselves and their community, as well as their relationship to Jewish history and religion. Many stereotypes persist, based on erroneous assumptions that Jewish identity is that of a white religious minority. These misconceptions, coupled with a marked rise in antisemitism, prevent the Jewish community from being properly seen, understood, and included in civic life. In pursuing this polling project, JCRC seeks to address widespread misconceptions with a research-based exploration of what it means to be a Jew.

A significant proportion (32%) identify with a different religion or no religion while still claiming Jewish identity. Reform/Reconstructionist is the largest group at 36%, followed by secular at 23%, and other/none of these at 17%. Most respondents are not very active in Jewish communal life: only 18% regularly attend Jewish activities (defined as a few times a month or more). 42% report living in an interfaith family.

57% of respondents are men, 40% are women and 2% are non-binary. 12% self-identify as LGBTQ. 26% have children under 18. 82% self-identify as white/Caucasian. 6% self-identify as people of color. 83% have at least some college and 51% have a graduate or professional degree. 64% identify politically in the Bay Area as progressive or liberal.

Being Jewish is important to the vast majority of respondents (86%) even among many of those who aren’t communally active or don’t identify religiously as Jewish. A smaller majority (54%) agree that their Jewish identity impacts the decisions they make in their day to day life.

Family heritage and the Holocaust rank highest as significant factors of respondents’ Jewish identity. Religion and spirituality rank lowest in significance as factors shaping Jewish identity, a clear rebuke of how Jews are most often portrayed and categorized (strictly as a religious or faith-based group).

Most survey respondents publicly identify as Jewish and are comfortable doing so. However, one third say that they only “somewhat agree,” indicating a level of hesitancy. Respondents are significantly more comfortable expressing their Jewish identity in environments where other Jews are present. Jews are a tiny minority in the Bay Area (4%) and spend most of their time in non-Jewish spaces.

40% of survey respondents report experiencing hate or discrimination related to Israel. Reflective of this data, the comfort level of respondents sharing their views about Israel is significantly lower than their comfort level identifying as Jewish. 39% of respondent strongly agree they are comfortable sharing Israel views, versus 56% strongly agree they are comfortable sharing their Jewish identity. Most (64%) agree that people make assumptions about them because they are Jewish, including about their views on Israel (58%).

The vast majority of survey participants (89%) agree that Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state — a basic marker of Zionism. A smaller majority indicated a personal connection to Israel (59%). At the same time, a strong majority (65%) are not generally comfortable with Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians.

A strong majority indicate support for a two-state solution, reflective of JCRC’s views. A very tiny minority (2%) identified with the anti-Zionist view that the founding of Israel caused an injustice to the Palestinians and the entire country should be given back to the Palestinians.

A strong majority of Bay Area Jews (70%) reject the movement to boycott, sanction and divest from Israel. 25% support BDS, with only 12% strongly supporting it. While intention can’t be inferred from a survey, it is possible that those who chose “somewhat agree” may support a partial boycott, such as a boycott of products made in West Bank Jewish settlements, versus a boycott of the entirety of Israel.