Majority of US Jews Experience Rising Antisemitism, Many Hide Their Identity

A new comprehensive survey by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAM), conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, reveals a troubling rise in antisemitism among the Jewish community in the United States. According to the data, 57% of American Jews reported experiencing antisemitism directly in the past year. The survey 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, with 46% of Orthodox Jews and 44% of community activists reporting personal antisemitic incidents, compared to 17% among those less involved in Jewish communal life. Physical threats and attacks affected 8% of respondents, representing roughly 406,000 adults. Additionally, 36% encountered antisemitic graffiti or vandalism nearby, and an equal proportion heard antisemitic remarks or jokes from coworkers or neighbors. Online, 59% were exposed to antisemitic content, with 10% targeted personally.

Despite these challenges, 40% of respondents experienced solidarity from non-Jewish acquaintances. The survey also found strong support for adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, with 71% endorsing it as the most accurate. Over two-thirds urged official adoption of the IHRA definition by institutions nationwide to enhance deterrence, while only 4% opposed it.

CAM's US president, Aliza D. Levin, emphasized the urgency of institutional adoption of the IHRA definition to ensure Jewish people can safely embrace their heritage. CAM's international affairs representative, Aharon Kiak, noted that antisemitism now emerges from extreme elements on both the political left and right, calling for active protective measures for the community.