Diaspora Jews Feel Strong Shared Fate With Israel, JPPI Survey Finds

A new comparison between JPPI’s “The Voice of the Jewish People” survey and Israel’s Diaspora Index shows strong feelings of mutual responsibility and shared destiny between Jews in the Diaspora and Jews in Israel. The JPPI poll covered Jews in the United States, Canada and Britain, while the Diaspora Ministry’s recent index examined Israeli attitudes toward Jewish communities abroad.

Among Diaspora respondents, 75% of American Jews said they feel personally responsible for the fate of Jews in Israel, compared with 84% in Canada and 66% in Britain. When asked whether they share a common destiny with Jews in Israel, 80% in the United States said yes, 81% in Canada and 80% in Britain. In Israel, 75% of respondents agreed that Jews in the Diaspora and Jews in Israel share a common fate despite living in different countries.

On who is responsible for the continued existence of the Jewish people outside Israel, 56% of American respondents pointed to Israel, 72% did so in Canada and 49% in Britain. In Israel, 56% now say the state is responsible for the survival of Jewish communities abroad, down from 68% a year earlier. The survey also found broad support for viewing Israel as a refuge, with 74% in the United States, 78% in Canada and 68% in Britain describing it that way, while 82% of Israelis said Israel remains the safest refuge for Jews worldwide.

There was also strong support for Israeli investment in ties with the Diaspora. 83% of Americans, 87% of Canadians and 78% of Britons said Israel should devote resources to strengthening those connections. On government funding for Jewish identity and education abroad, support stood at 57% in the United States, 52% in Canada and 55% in Britain, while 58% of Israelis backed allocating resources for that purpose.

JPPI director general Shuki Friedman said surveys since October 7 show Diaspora Jews feel a deep bond with Jewish identity and “shared fate” with Jews in Israel, and that Israel is seen as “an existential anchor and a safe haven” amid rising antisemitism. He added that the relationship is mutual and that Israeli leaders should devote attention and resources to strengthening Diaspora communities and maximizing potential aliyah.