Majority of US Jews Experience Antisemitism, Many Hide Their Identity, New Report Finds

A comprehensive survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago (NORC) and published by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAM) reveals a troubling rise in antisemitism affecting the Jewish community in the United States. According to the report, 57% of American Jews have experienced antisemitism directly in the past year. The study highlights significant behavioral changes, with 38% of respondents concealing Jewish symbols in public and 32% avoiding posting Jewish-related content on social media. Approximately 23%, or about 1.2 million people, deliberately skipped Jewish events or religious ceremonies due to safety concerns.

The impact is most severe among openly practicing Jews: 46% of Orthodox Jews and 44% of active community members reported personal harm, compared to 17% among those less involved in Jewish communal life. Violence and vandalism have also increased, with 8% (around 406,000 adults) reporting physical threats or attacks because of their Jewish identity. Additionally, 36% encountered antisemitic graffiti or vandalism nearby, and a similar proportion heard antisemitic remarks or jokes from coworkers or neighbors. Online, 59% were exposed to antisemitic content, and 10% said such content was personally targeted at them.

Despite these challenges, 40% of respondents noted receiving solidarity from non-Jewish acquaintances. The report also found strong support for adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, with 71% endorsing it as the most accurate. More than two-thirds urged US institutions to officially adopt the IHRA definition to enhance deterrence, with only 4% opposing.

CAM’s US president, Aliza D. Levin, emphasized the urgency: "These data provide a clear mandate from the community. It is time for all US institutions to immediately adopt the IHRA definition and work to ensure Jews can embrace their heritage safely." CAM’s international affairs representative, Aharon Kiak, added that antisemitism now comes from extreme fringes on both the left and right, calling for active measures to protect the community.