Introduction

The data reported here are from the 2000 Annual Survey of American Jewish Opinion, sponsored by the American Jewish Committee, detailing the views of American Jews about a broad range of subjects. Among the topics covered in the present survey are the Israel-Arab peace process, the attachment of American Jews to Israel, political and social issues in the United States, Jewish perceptions of anti-Semitism, Jewish opinion about various countries, and Jewish identity concerns. Some of the questions appearing in the survey are new; others are drawn from previous American Jewish Committee surveys, including the 1997, 1998, and 1999 Annual Surveys of American Jewish Opinion.

The 2000 survey was conducted for the American Jewish Committee by Market Facts, Inc., a leading survey-research organization. Respondents were interviewed by telephone during September 14-28, 2000; no interviewing took place on the Sabbath. The sample consisted of 1,010 self-identified Jewish respondents selected from the Market Facts consumer mail panel. The respondents are demographically representative of the United States adult Jewish population on a variety of measures. The margin of error for the sample as a whole is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Forty-four percent of the respondents are men and 56 percent are women. Nineteen percent are under age 40, 43 percent are 40-59, and 37 percent are 60 and over. Seventy-seven percent are married and 23 percent are unmarried. Nineteen percent report their household incomes as under $30,000, 24 percent as $30,000-49,999, 24 percent as $50,000-74,999, and 33 percent as $75,000 and over. Fourteen percent have a high-school education or less, another 25 percent have attended some college, another 23 percent have four years of college, and another 37 percent have five or more years of higher education.

In terms of Jewish background, 10 percent of the respondents identify as Orthodox, 31 percent as Conservative, 31 percent as Reform, 2 percent as

Reconstructionist, and 25 percent as "Just Jewish." Fifty-nine percent of the respondents belong to a synagogue or temple. Of married respondents, 85 percent have Jewish spouses. When asked "How important would you say being Jewish is in your own life?" Fifty-nine percent of the respondents say "very important," 33 percent "fairly important," and 8 percent "not very important."

Israel and the Middle East

1. How close do you feel to Israel?

Very close	28
Fairly close	46
Fairly distant	18
Very distant	7
Not sure	1

2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "Caring about Israel is a very important part of my being a Jew."

Agree	80
Disagree	18
Not sure	2

3. Have you ever been to Israel?

No	58
Yes--once	23
Yes--more than once	20

4. Looking ahead 3 to 5 years, do you see Jews in Israel and in the United States becoming closer, drifting apart, or neither?

Becoming closer	32
Drifting apart	12
Neither	50
Not sure	6

5. How would you characterize relations between Israel and the United States today? Are they very positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative, or very negative?

Very positive	20
Somewhat positive	70
Somewhat negative	7
Very negative	0
Not sure	2

6. Do you support or oppose the Israeli government's current handling of the peace negotiations with the Arabs?

Support	59
Oppose	24
Not sure	17

7. To what extent do each of the following Arab leaders support or oppose peace with Israel?

		Strongly support	Somewhat support	Somewhat oppose	Strongly oppose	Not sure
a	President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt	19	48	12	6	15
b	President Bashar Assad of Syria	2	17	28	28	25
c	King Abdullah of Jordan	17	44	13	8	19
d	PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat	7	33	25	28	8

8. In the framework of a permanent peace with the Palestinians, should Israel be willing to compromise on the status of Jerusalem as a united city under Israeli jurisdiction?

Yes	36
No	57
Not sure	7

9. (IF YES IN Q.8 ASK:) In the framework of a permanent peace with the Palestinians, should Israel be willing to relinquish sovereignty of the Old City of Jerusalem?

Yes	17
No	76
Not sure	7

10. If the Palestinian Authority (PLO) unilaterally declares statehood, what response by Israel would you most favor?

Israel should accept the declaration of statehood	24
Israel should break off negotiations with the Palestinians	28
Israel should annex the remainder of the West Bank	17
Other	18
Not sure	13

11. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "The goal of the Arabs is not the return of occupied territories but rather the destruction of Israel."

Agree	69
Disagree	23
Not sure	8

12. Tension between secular and ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel is becoming sharper. In your view, who is principally responsible for this increase in tension?

Secular Israelis	7
Ultra-Orthodox Israelis	72
Both equally (Vol.)	12
Not sure	9

13. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "Israel no longer needs the financial support of American Jews."

Agree	10
Disagree	87
Not sure	2

14. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "Regardless of their individual views on the peace negotiations with the Arabs, American Jews should support the policies of the duly elected government of Israel."

Agree	62
Disagree	32
Not sure	7

Domestic Policy

15. Do you favor or oppose establishing a school voucher program that would allow parents to use tax funds to send their children to the school of their choice, even if it were a private school?

Favor	35
Oppose	61
Not sure	4

16. There is increased emphasis in America today on separate group identity--whether racial, ethnic, or religious. Do you see this as a trend that will divide American society, or do you see this as a trend that will enrich American society?

Will divide American society	63
Will enrich American society	28
Not sure	9

17. Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder?

Favor	67
Oppose	26
Not sure	8

18. Do you favor or oppose government aid to parochial or other religious schools?

Favor	28
Oppose	68
Not sure	4

19. Do you think the number of immigrants from foreign countries who are permitted to come to the United States to live should be increased a lot, increased a little, left the same as it is now, decreased a little, or decreased a lot?

Increased a lot	6
Increased a little	16
Left the same as it is now	46
Decreased a little	15
Decreased a lot	12
Not sure	5

20. Do you think abortions should be legal under any circumstances, legal only under certain circumstances, or illegal in all circum- stances?

Legal under any circumstances	62
Legal only under certain circumstances	31
Illegal in all circumstances	5
Not sure	1

21. Charter schools are independent public schools that operate outside the traditional public school system. Supporters of this new type of school hail it as an innovative and practical response to widespread problems in public education. Opponents of charter schools claim that these schools are not subject to adequate oversight and will weaken traditional public education. Given what you know, do you support or oppose charter schools?

Support	49
Oppose	37
Not sure	14

Voting Patterns

22. In politics, as of today, do you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent?

Republican	9
Democrat	59
Independent	30
Not sure	2

23. I'm going to read you a list of political views that people might hold. They are arranged from extremely liberal to extremely conservative. Where would you place yourself on this scale?

Extremely liberal	4
Liberal	23
Slightly liberal	18
Moderate, middle of the road	36
Slightly conservative	9
Conservative	8
Extremely conservative	1
Not sure	2

24. If the election were held today, whom would you vote for as president of the United States?

Al Gore	75
George W. Bush	11
Ralph Nader	3
Pat Buchanan	0
Not sure	11

25. Al Gore has selected Senator Joseph Lieberman as his vice-presidential running mate. Do you approve or disapprove of this choice?

Approve	90
Disapprove	5
Not Sure	5

International Relations

26. I would like your opinion of some countries today. Is your overall opinion of (INSERT COUNTRY) very favorable, somewhat favorable, neutral, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable?

	Very Fav.	Some. Fav.	Neutral	Some. Unfav.	Very Unfav.	Not Sure
a. Austria	5	16	38	24	11	5
b. Saudi Arabia	1	12	29	34	21	4
c. Germany	5	24	35	22	12	3
d. Jordan	5	28	34	22	8	3
e. Switzerland	13	25	39	15	5	3
f. Poland	4	21	43	19	9	5
g. Israel	51	34	10	2	1	1
h. Egypt	4	31	36	20	5	4
i. China	3	17	33	31	12	3
j. Mexico	9	31	40	13	3	4
k. Russia	2	18	40	28	9	3
l. France	8	24	36	21	7	3
m. Argentina	2	17	49	19	5	7
n. The Vatican	7	24	41	19	6	3
o. Syria	1	5	19	32	38	4
p. India	3	22	48	18	4	5

27. Is your opinion of the United Nations very favorable, somewhat favorable, neutral, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable?

Very favorable	19
Somewhat favorable	36
Neutral	25
Somewhat unfavorable	15
Very unfavorable	4
Not sure	1

28. Please tell me if you agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly with the following statement:
"Germany today is making a sincere effort to deal with the legacy of the Holocaust."

Agree strongly	18
Agree somewhat	51
Disagree somewhat	18
Disagree strongly	10
Not sure	3

Jewish Life

29. How important would you say being Jewish is in your own life?

Very important	59
Fairly important	33
Not very important	8

30. Which one of the following qualities do you consider most important to your Jewish identity?

Being part of the Jewish people	45
Religious observance	16
Support for Israel	3
A commitment to social justice	21
Something else	13
Not sure	2

31. Does your household do the following things all the time, usually, sometimes, or never?

	All the Time	Usually	Sometimes	Never
a. Light Hanukkah candles	75	6	10	8
b. Attend a Passover seder	71	7	16	6
c. Have a Christmas tree	9	1	7	82
d. Celebrate Purim	35	10	30	25

32. Please rate the importance of each of the following to your Jewish identity, indicating whether it is extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important.

	Extreme. Import	Very Import.	Some. Import.	Not Import.
a. Participation in synagogue services	10	27	40	23
b. Jewish study	9	31	44	16
c. Travel to Israel	6	21	41	32
d. Jewish organizational activity	6	22	49	23
e. Celebration of Jewish holidays	18	50	27	6
f. Remembrance of the Holocaust	27	54	16	3

33. Do you think of yourself as . . .

Orthodox	10
Conservative	31
Reconstructionist	2
Reform	31
Just Jewish	25

34. Do you belong to a synagogue or temple?

Yes	59
No	40

35. Do you think that tensions between Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Jews in the United States today are a very serious problem, somewhat of a problem, or not a problem at all?

Very serious problem	13
Somewhat of a problem	55
Not a problem at all	30
Not sure	2

36. Looking ahead over the next several years, do you think that tensions between Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Jews in the United States will increase greatly, increase somewhat, remain the same, decrease somewhat, or decrease greatly?

Increase greatly	5
Increase somewhat	25
Remain the same	51
Decrease somewhat	12
Decrease greatly	2
Not sure	4

37. In your opinion, which is a greater threat to Jewish life in the United States today--intermarriage or anti-Semitism?

Intermarriage	41
Anti-Semitism	50
Both equally (Vol.)	7
Not sure	2

Anti-Semitism in the U.S.

38. Do you think that anti-Semitism in the United States is currently a very serious problem, somewhat of a problem, or not a problem at all?

Very serious problem	32
Somewhat of a problem	63
Not a problem at all	5
Not sure	0

39. Looking ahead over the next several years, do you think that anti-Semitism in the United States will increase greatly, increase somewhat, remain the same, decrease somewhat, or decrease greatly?

Increase greatly	9
Increase somewhat	28
Remain the same	45
Decrease somewhat	12
Decrease greatly	1
Not sure	4

40. In your opinion, what proportion of each of the following groups in the United States is anti-Semitic—most, many, some, very few, or none?

Very Not

Most Many Some few None sure

a. Asians 2 3 30 39 10 15

b. Moslems 19 22 36 9 2 11

c. Hispanics 3 5 44 29 6 13

d. Blacks 6 16 52 16 2 8

e. The Religious Right 23 26 30 8 1 1

f. Liberals 2 4 34 37 12 11

g. Conservatives 4 15 49 15 4 13

h. Catholics 4 9 55 22 3 7

i. Mainstream Protestants 3 8 49 24 4 11

j. Fundamentalist Protestants 11 20 41 11 2 16

41. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "Virtually all positions of influence in the United States are open to Jews."

Agree	51
Disagree	47
Not sure	3

Intermarriage

42. Please tell me if you agree or disagree with each of the following statements: Agree Disagree Not sure a. "It would pain me if my child married a gentile." 39 56 4 b. "Intermarriage is inevitable in an open society." 80 18 2 c. "The best response to intermarriage is to encourage 25 68 7 the gentile to convert to Judaism." d. "The Jewish community has an obligation to reach out to 81 16 4 intermarried couples." e. "It is racist to oppose Jewish-gentile marriages." 50 47 4 f. "The Jewish community has an obligation to urge Jews to 69 27 4 marry Jews."

43. Which of the following statements comes closest to expressing your own view about marriage between a Jew and a gentile:

"I strongly disapprove of marriage between a Jew 12 and a gentile."

"I am disappointed by marriage between a Jew and a gentile 30 without conversion to Judaism."

"I am neutral about marriage between a Jew and a gentile." 40

"I see marriage between a Jew and gentile as a positive good." 16

Not sure 2

Ask of Half Sample

44a.Rabbinic officiation at a mixed marriage, that is, a marriage between a Jew and a gentile, is a controversial issue in American Jewish life. Which of the following positions comes closest to your own view about the matter?

Rabbis should refuse to officiate at any marriage between a 15 Jew and a gentile.

Rabbis should officiate at a marriage between a Jew and a gentile only if the non-Jewish 16 partner agrees to raise the children as Jews.

Rabbis should officiate at a marriage between a Jew and a gentile as a last resort, if there is 14 no other way of providing some Jewish connection.

Rabbis should officiate at a marriage between a Jew and a gentile only if no gentile clergyman is 6 involved in the ceremony.

Rabbis should officiate at a marriage between a Jew and a gentile even 42 if a gentile clergyman is involved in the ceremony.

Not sure 6

Ask of Half Sample

44b. Rabbinic officiation at a mixed marriage, that is, a marriage between a Jew and a gentile, is a controversial issue in American Jewish life. Which of the following positions comes closest to your own view about the matter?

Rabbis should refuse to officiate at any marriage between a Jew and a 22 gentile.

Rabbis should officiate at a marriage between a Jew and a gentile only if 16 no gentile clergyman is involved in the ceremony.

Rabbis should officiate at a marriage between a Jew and a gentile even if 57 a gentile clergyman is involved in the ceremony.

Not sure 5

45. Should a rabbi officiate at a same sex marriage, that is, a marriage involving two men or two women, if both are Jewish?

Yes 46 No 44 Not sure 10

46. Are you currently married?

Yes 77 No 23

47. (IF YES IN Q.46, ASK:) Is your spouse Jewish?

Yes—spouse Jewish 85 No—spouse not Jewish 15

48. Do you have any children?

Yes 83 No 17

49. (IF yes in Q.48, ask:) Are any of your children married?

Yes 52 No 48

50. (IF YES IN Q.49, ASK:) Do any of your children have a spouse who is not Jewish?

Yes 64 No 36

Age of Participants

51. What is your age as of your last birthday?

Under 30	5
30-39	14
40-49	20
50-59	23
60-69	16
70 or over	21