Survey Reveals Rising Fear and Antisemitism Among American Jews Ahead of US 250th Anniversary

A comprehensive survey released by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAM) ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary reveals alarming levels of antisemitism experienced by American Jews. Conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, the study found that 57% of American Jews encountered antisemitism in the past year, with 58% feeling less safe than the previous year. Approximately 1.2 million Jewish adults avoided attending community or religious events due to genuine fears for their safety.

The survey highlights a significant behavioral shift, with 38% of respondents admitting to hiding Jewish symbols in public, 32% refraining from posting Jewish-identifying content on social media, and 23% deliberately missing Jewish religious ceremonies out of security concerns. Public visibility has become a direct risk factor, particularly for those openly practicing Judaism; 46% of Orthodox Jews and 44% of active community members reported personal harm, compared to only 17% among less involved individuals.

Physical violence and harassment have also increased, with 8% (around 406,000 adults) reporting physical threats or attacks due to their Jewish identity. Additionally, 36% encountered antisemitic graffiti or vandalism nearby, and an equal percentage heard antisemitic remarks or jokes from coworkers or neighbors. Online antisemitism is pervasive, with 59% exposed to explicit antisemitic content and 10% targeted personally. Despite this, 40% experienced solidarity from non-Jewish acquaintances.

In response to these challenges, there is overwhelming support among American Jews for officially adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, with 71% endorsing it as the most accurate description and over two-thirds urging institutions to adopt it to enhance deterrence. Only 4% opposed this move.

Aliza D. Levin, CAM's US president, emphasized the urgent need for institutional action, stating, "The findings are a stark reminder that antisemitism is a daily, tangible threat for American Jews. The more visibly Jewish a person is, the higher the risk of attack. These data provide a clear mandate: it is time for all US institutions to adopt the IHRA definition immediately and ensure Jews can proudly and safely embrace their heritage." Aaron Kiak, CAM's international affairs representative and former US special envoy for combating antisemitism, added that antisemitism now emerges from extreme left and right factions converging against Jews, calling for depoliticized, systemic measures to protect the community.