AJC’s 2019 Survey of American Jewish Attitudes about Antisemitism, conducted by the research company SSRS, is based on telephone interviews carried out September 11 - October 6, with a national sample of 1,283 Jews over age 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.2%. Find the methodology report here

Download a copy of the results here

1. 

How much of a problem, if at all, do you think antisemitism is in the United States today?

   
A very serious problem
  38%
 
 
   
Somewhat of a problem
  50%
 
 
   
Not much of a problem
  10%
 
   
Not a problem at all
  2%
 
   

A Problem - 88%
Not a Problem - 12%

 

2. 

Over the past five years, do you think antisemitism in the United States has…

   
Increased a lot
  43%
 
 
   
Increased somewhat
  41%
 
 
   
Stayed the same
  12%
 
   
Decreased a little
  3%
 
   
Decreased a lot
  1%
 
   
Don’t know
  1%
 
   

Increased - 84%
Decreased - 4%
Stayed the same - 12%
Don't know - 1%

 

3. 

Compared to a year ago, is the status of Jews in the United States more secure or less secure?

   
More secure than a year ago
  2%
 
   
Less secure than a year ago
  42%
 
 
   
About the same as a year ago
  55%
 
 
   
Don’t know
  1%
 
   

 

4. 

Compared to a year ago, is the climate on college campuses toward pro-Israel students less hostile, more hostile, or about the same as a year ago?

   
More hostile than a year ago
  36%
 
 
   
Less hostile than a year ago
  2%
 
   
About the same as a year ago
  41%
 
 
   
Don’t know
  20%
 
   

 

5a. 

Over the past five years, have you, yourself, been the target of an antisemitic physical attack?

   
Yes, one time
 
  2%
 
   
No
  98%
 
   

 

5b. 

Over the past five years, have you, yourself, been the target of an antisemitic remark in person, by mail, or by phone?

   
Yes, one time
 
  10%
 
   
Yes, more than one time
 
  13%
 
   
No
  77%
 
 
   

Yes - 23%
No - 77%

 

5c. 

Over the past five years, have you, yourself, been the target of an antisemitic remark online or through social media?

   
Yes, one time
 
  6%
 
   
Yes, more than one time
 
  15%
 
   
No
  80%
 
 
   

Yes - 21%
No - 80%

 

6. 

Over the past five years, if you, yourself, were the target of an antisemitic attack or remark, did you report this incident or any of these incidents?

   
Yes, to the police
 
  3%
 
   
Yes, to a Jewish organization
 
  6%
 
   
Yes, through social media
 
  17%
 
   
No, I did not report it
  75%
 
 
   
Don’t know
 
  1%
 
   

Total reported incident - 24%
Did not report incident - 75%
Don't know or refused - 1%

5a./6. Over the past five years, if you were the target of an antisemitic physical attack, did you report this incident or any of these incidents?
   
Yes, to the police
 
  1%
 
   
Yes, to a Jewish organization
 
  1%
 
   
5b./6. Over the past five years, if you were the target of an antisemitic remark in person, by mail, or by phone, did you report this incident or any of these incidents?
   
Yes, to the police
 
  1%
 
   
Yes, to a Jewish organization
 
  1%
 
   
Yes, through social media
 
  3%
 
   
No, I did not report it
 
  18%
 
   
5c./6. Over the past five years, if you were the target of an antisemitic remark online or through social media, did you report this incident or any of these incidents?
   
Yes, to the police
 
  1%
 
   
Yes, to a Jewish organization
 
  1%
 
   
Yes, through social media
 
  6%
 
   
No, I did not report it
 
  13%
 
   

 

7. 

Over the past five years, have you or anyone you know experienced antisemitism on a college campus?

   
Yes, you personally
 
  1%
 
   
Yes, someone you know
 
  16%
 
   
Yes, both myself and someone I know
 
  3%
 
   
No, never
  78%
 
 
   
Don’t know
 
  2%
 
   

Yes - 20%
No - 78%
Don't know - 2%

 

8. 

Do you ever avoid certain places, events, or situations out of concern for your safety or comfort as a Jew?

   
Yes, always
 
  2%
 
   
Yes, frequently
 
  4%
 
   
Yes, sometimes 
 
  19%
 
   
No, never
  74%
 
 
   

Yes - 25%
No - 74%

 

9a. 

Have you avoided visiting Jewish institutions or participating in Jewish events because you would not feel safe there?

   
Yes
 
  5%
 
   
No
  95%
 
 
   

 

9b. 

Have you avoided publicly wearing, carrying, or displaying things that might help people identify you as a Jew?

   
Yes
  31%
 
 
   
No
  68%
 
 
   
Refused
 
  1%
 
   

 

10. 

Have any Jewish institutions with which you are affiliated been targets of antisemitism?

   
Antisemitic graffiti 
 
  22%
 
   
Antisemitic attacks 
 
  8%
 
   
Antisemitic threats 
 
  17%
 
   
None of these
  54%
 
 
   
Not affiliated with any Jewish institutions
 
  11%
 
   
Don’t know
 
  2%
 
   

Institutions have been a target - 33%
Institutions have not been a target - 54%
Not affiliated with any Jewish institutions - 11%
Don't know or refused - 2%

 

11a. 

Have any Jewish institutions with which you are affiliated hired security guards?

   
Yes
  57%
 
 
   
No
  32%
 
 
   
I don't visit or participate
 
  1%
 
   
Not affiliated
 
  6%
 
   
Don't know
 
  4%
 
   

 

11b. 

Have any Jewish institutions with which you are affiliated had police posted on site or outside?

   
Yes
  52%
 
 
   
No
  38%
 
 
   
I don't visit or participate
 
  1%
 
   
Not affiliated
 
  7%
 
   
Don't know
 
  2%
 
   

 

11c. 

Have any Jewish institutions with which you are affiliated trained or informed members on how to respond to an attack?

   
Yes
  39%
 
 
   
No
  45%
 
 
   
I don't visit or participate
 
  1%
 
   
Not affiliated
 
  7%
 
   
Don't know
 
  8%
 
   

 

12a. 

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 meaning “no responsibility” and 10 meaning “total responsibility”, how much responsibility do you think the Democratic Party bears for the current level of antisemitism?

   
10-Total Responsibility
 
  6%
 
   
9
 
  3%
 
   
8
 
  4%
 
   
7
 
  5%
 
   
6
 
  4%
 
   
5
 
  12%
 
   
4
 
  6%
 
   
3
 
  10%
 
   
2
 
  17%
 
   
1-No Responsibility
  30%
 
 
   
Don't know
 
  2%
 
   

 

12b. 

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 meaning “no responsibility” and 10 meaning “total responsibility”, how much responsibility do you think the Republican Party bears for the current level of antisemitism?

   
10-Total Responsibility
 
  17%
 
   
9
 
  7%
 
   
8
 
  18%
 
   
7
 
  12%
 
   
6
 
  7%
 
   
5
 
  10%
 
   
4
 
  5%
 
   
3
 
  4%
 
   
2
 
  5%
 
   
1-No Responsibility
 
  14%
 
   
Don't know
 
  2%
 
   

 

13a. 

In your view, how much of an antisemitic threat does the extreme political right represent in the United States today?

   
Very serious threat
  49%
 
 
   
Moderately serious threat
  29%
 
 
   
Slight threat
  11%
 
   
No threat at all
 
  9%
 
   
Don’t know
  2%
 
   

A threat - 89%
Not a threat - 9%
Don't know - 2%

 

13b. 

In your view, how much of an antisemitic threat does the extreme political left represent in the United States today?

   
Very serious threat
 
  15%
 
   
Moderately serious threat
 
  21%
 
   
Slight threat
  28%
 
 
   
No threat at all
  34%
 
 
   
Don’t know
  2%
 
   

A threat - 64%
Not a threat - 34%
Don't know - 2%

 

13c. 

In your view, how much of an antisemitic threat does extremism in the name of Islam represent in the United States today?

   
Very serious threat
  27%
 
 
   
Moderately serious threat
  27%
 
 
   
Slight threat
  31%
 
 
   
No threat at all
 
  14%
 
   
Don’t know
  1%
 
   

A threat - 85%
Not a threat - 14%
Don't know - 1%

 

14. 

How effective do you think law enforcement is in responding to the security needs of Jews?

   
Very effective
  34%
 
 
   
Somewhat effective
  47%
 
 
   
Not too effective
  11%
 
   
Not at all effective
  4%
 
   
Don't know
  4%
 
   

Effective - 81%
Not effective - 15%
Don't know - 4%

 

15. 

How familiar are you with the BDS movement?

   
Very familiar
 
  26%
 
   
Somewhat familiar
  36%
 
 
   
Not too familiar
 
  14%
 
   
Not at all familiar
 
  24%
 
   

 

16. 

Do you view the BDS movement as antisemitic?

   
Mostly antisemitic
  35%
 
 
   
Some antisemitic supporters
  47%
 
 
   
Not antisemitic
 
  14%
 
   
Don't know
 
  4%
 
   

Mostly antisemitic/has antisemitic supporters - 82%
Not antisemitic - 14%
Don't know - 4%

 

17a. 

Do you view the following statement, “Israel has no right to exist,” as antisemitic or not?

   
Yes, antisemitic
  84%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  15%
 
   

 

17b. 

Do you view the following statement, “The U.S. government only supports Israel because of Jewish money,” as antisemitic or not?

   
Yes, antisemitic
  80%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  20%
 
   
Don't know
 
  1%
 
   

 

17c. 

Do you view the following statement, “American Jews are more loyal to Israel than to America,” as antisemitic or not?

   
Yes, antisemitic
  73%
 
 
   
No, not antisemitic
 
  26%
 
   
Don't know
 
  1%
 
   

 

18. 

Where would you place yourself on this scale?

   
Liberal
  41%
 
 
   
Lean Liberal
 
  15%
 
   
Moderate, middle of the road
 
  21%
 
   
Lean Conservative
 
  8%
 
   
Conservative
 
  13%
 
   
Don't know
 
  1%
 
   
Refused
 
  1%
 
   

Liberal or lean liberal - 56%
Conservative or lean conservative - 21%
Moderate, middle of the road - 21%
Don't know or refused - 2%

 

19. 

In politics today, do you consider yourself...

   
Republican
 
  14%
 
   
Democrat
  53%
 
 
   
Independent
 
  23%
 
   
Other
 
  9%
 
   

 

20. 

In the presidential election of 2016, whom did you vote for?

   
Hillary Clinton
  61%
 
 
   
Donald Trump
 
  17%
 
   
Another candidate
 
  7%
 
   
Didn't vote
 
  13%
 
   
Refused
 
  1%
 
   

 

21. 

Is your opinion of the job President Trump is doing favorable or unfavorable?

   
Favorable
 
  22%
 
   
Unfavorable
  76%
 
 
   
Don't know
 
  2%
 
   

 

22. 

Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Trump is handling the threat of antisemitism in the United States?

   
Strongly approve
 
  11%
 
   
Somewhat approve
 
  13%
 
   
Somewhat disapprove
 
  11%
 
   
Strongly disapprove
  62%
 
 
   
Don't know
 
  4%
 
   
Refused
 
  1%
 
   

Approve - 24%
Disapprove - 73%
Don't know or refused - 5%

 

23. 

How important is being Jewish in your life?

   
Very important
  40%
 
 
   
Somewhat important
  38%
 
 
   
Not too important
  16%
 
   
Not at all important
  5%
 
   

Important - 78%
Not important - 21%

 

24. 

Do you identify as...?

   
Haredi [Ultra-Orthodox]
 
  7%
 
   
Modern Orthodox
 
  3%
 
   
Conservative
  12%
 
   
Reform
 
  26%
 
   
Reconstructionist
 
  6%
 
   
Secular
  41%
 
 
   
Don't know
 
  4%
 
   

 

24a. 

What is your current marital status?

   
Unmarried
  46%
 
 
   
Married to a born Jew
  25%
 
 
   
Married to a convert to Judaism
 
  4%
 
   
Married to a non-Jew
  23%
 
   
Don't know
  1%
 
   

 

Download a copy of the results here