American Jews live in fear: avoid events and hide

A comprehensive survey published by the Movement to Combat Anti-Semitism (CAM) reveals that the Jewish community in the United States is facing an escalating threat. According to the data of the study, conducted by the National Public Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago (NORC), an absolute majority of 57% of American Jews have directly experienced anti-Semitism in the past year.

Change in behavior and self-censorship

• The research shows that 38% of the respondents hide Jewish symbols in public and 32% avoid publishing identifying content on social networks.
• About 23% of the respondents, which is about 1.2 million people, chose to consciously miss Jewish religious events or ceremonies out of fear for their safety.
• Anti-Semitism most severely affected those who live openly as Jews: 46% of Orthodox Jews and 44% of those active in the community experienced personal harm, compared to 17% of those not involved in community life.

Increase in violence and vandalism

• 8% of the respondents, representing approximately 406,000 adults, reported that they had been the victim of physical threats or a violent attack because of their Jewishness.
• About 36% encountered anti-Jewish graffiti or vandalism in their immediate surroundings, and the same proportion heard anti-Semitic comments or jokes from work colleagues or neighbors.
• In the digital arena, 59% were exposed to anti-Semitic content on the Internet and 10% reported that the content was directed and labeled against them personally.
• 40% of the respondents indicated that they received expressions of solidarity from their non-Jewish acquaintances.

Support for the definition of international anti-Semitism

• The study shows a consensus around the adoption of the international definition of anti-Semitism (IHRA), with 71% of respondents stating that this definition is the most accurate.
• Over two-thirds of the respondents demanded that the country’s institutions adopt the definition officially to create deterrence, compared to only 4% opposition.

The president of CAM for US affairs, Aliza Levin, said: “These data provide an unequivocal mandate from the field. The time has come for all institutions in the US to adopt the IHRA definition, and begin to act so that Jews can safely embrace their heritage.” Aharon Kayak, CAM’s special representative for international affairs, said: “Anti-Semitism currently operates in a ‘horseshoe’ model – it comes from the most extreme ends of the left and the right. We all have the duty to take active steps to protect the community.”