Survey Reveals Rising Antisemitism Among US Jews Ahead of 250th Independence Anniversary

A comprehensive survey released by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAM) ahead of the United States' 250th independence anniversary reveals a troubling rise in 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 personally encountered antisemitism in the past year, with 58% feeling less safe than the previous year. The survey highlights significant behavioral changes, including 38% of respondents hiding Jewish symbols in public and 23% avoiding Jewish events due to safety concerns, representing approximately 1.2 million adults.

The data also shows that visibility of Jewish identity correlates with increased risk: 46% of Orthodox Jews and 44% of community activists reported personal harm, compared to 17% among less involved individuals. Physical violence is on the rise, with 8% reporting threats or attacks motivated by antisemitism, equating to around 406,000 adults. Additionally, 36% encountered antisemitic graffiti or vandalism nearby, and an equal percentage heard antisemitic remarks at work or from neighbors. Online antisemitism is pervasive, with 59% exposed to hateful content and 10% targeted directly.

Despite these challenges, 40% of respondents experienced solidarity from non-Jewish acquaintances. The survey also found broad support (71%) among American Jews for adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, with over two-thirds urging official institutional adoption to enhance deterrence. Only 4% opposed this move.

Aliza D. Levin, CAM's US president, emphasized the urgent need for institutions to adopt the IHRA definition to protect Jewish identity and safety. Aaron Kiak, CAM's international representative and former US special envoy for antisemitism, warned that antisemitism now spans extreme political fringes and called for depoliticized, systemic action. The survey comes amid recent antisemitic incidents on US campuses and cities, serving as a wake-up call for policymakers and public institutions.