AJC 2021 Survey of Israeli Jewish Opinion

June 14, 2021

American Jewish Committee’s 2021 Survey of Israeli Jewish Opinion, conducted by Geocartography, is based on an internet survey and telephone survey carried out in May of 2021 with a national sample of 1,000 Jews over the age of 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percent.

1.	As far as you know, how many Jews in total live in the Diaspora?


1-4 million	10%

5-9 million	47%

Over 10 million	30%

Don't know	12%

2.	What percentage of the world’s Jews live in the United States?


Less than one-third	10%

One-third to less than two-thirds	51%

Two-thirds or more	28%

Don't know	11%

3.	What percentage of American Jews define themselves as Reform?


Between 1-25%	19%

Between 26-50%	39%

Over 50%	23%

Don't know	20%

4.	Did you receive any formal or informal education about the Diaspora when you were growing up? If so, would you describe the education you received about Diaspora Jewry growing up as...


Very comprehensive	3%

Somewhat comprehensive	8%

So-so	20%

Not very comprehensive	22%

Not comprehensive at all	15%

I didn’t receive any education about the Diaspora	32%

5.	(Among those who received education about Diaspora Jewry) Which of the following are places you learned about Diaspora Jewry (choose all that apply):


School	61%

Youth group	11%

Summer program	6%

Army	18%

Course in university	20%

Program with American participants, such as Birthright	8%


Working in/with the American Jewish community (e.g., shlichut, shinshin)	6%

Other extended stay in the United States	5%

Family or friends	26%

Television/movies	29%

None of the above	5%

6.	How confident are you in your knowledge about the following topics? The different denominations of American Judaism


Very well	5%

Quite Well	17%

So-so	34%

Not very well	25%

Not at all	18%

Antisemitism in the Diaspora


Very well	13%

Quite Well	36%

So-so	34%

Not very well	12%

Not at all	6%

7.	If you had the opportunity to learn more about American Jews, to what degree would you be interested in doing so?


Very interested	10%

Somewhat interested	37%

So-so	30%

Not that interested	14%

Not interested at all	8%

8.	When thinking about Diaspora Jewry, which of these statements most closely represents how you feel?


The Diaspora is less important to the Jewish people than Israel	19%

The Diaspora and Israel are equally important to the Jewish people	74%

The Diaspora is more important to the Jewish people than Israel	6%

The Diaspora is not important at all	1%

9.	Do you think that a thriving Diaspora is or isn’t vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?


Very vital	33%

Somewhat vital	42%

So-so	14%

Not very vital	5%

Not vital at all	1%

Don't know	5%

9a. (For those who responded “Vital” or “Somewhat Vital”) What is the most important reason that a thriving Diaspora is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?


Diaspora Jews advocate for Israel with their governments	36%

Diaspora Jews support Israel with funding	24%

Variety adds to the strength of the Jewish people	27%

The Diaspora fosters Jewish creativity in a different way than Israeli life	6%

They are very important to the Jewish people	1%

They are part of the Jewish people	1%

9b. (For those who responded “Not very vital” or “Not vital at all”) What is the most important reason that you don’t think a thriving Diaspora is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?


Diaspora Jewry is assimilating and won’t survive	17%

Diaspora Jewry does not contribute as much to Jewish peoplehood as Israeli Jewry	29%



Israel is the center of world Jewry and the Diaspora is of less and less relevance as time goes on	34%

Other	20%

10.	Have you ever visited the United States?


No	54%

Once	18%

Yes, more than once, but less than 5 times	19%

Yes, at least 5 times	10%

10a. (For those who have visited the United States) Would you say your visit/s to the United States...


Strengthened your connection to American Jews	25%

Weakened your connection to American Jews	6%

Had no impact on your connection to American Jews	70%

11.	Which of the following relatives or friends, if any, currently live in the United States?


Members of your extended family	33%

Close friends	15%

More distant family or friends	25%

Immediate family relatives	14%

None of the above	33%

12.	Using the metaphor of a family, do you consider American Jews your…?


Siblings	24%

First cousins	18%

Extended family	45%

Not part of my family	14%

13.	Regarding the relations with Diaspora and American Jews, to what degree do you agree or disagree with the following statements? All Jews are part of my family


Strongly agree	27%

Somewhat agree	32%

So-so	22%

Somewhat disagree	11%

Strongly disagree	7%

I have a lot in common with American Jews


Strongly agree	12%

Somewhat agree	26%

So-so	32%

Somewhat disagree	20%

Strongly disagree	10%

Israel is responsible for taking care of Jews in the Diaspora


Strongly agree	16%

Somewhat agree	30%

So-so	29%

Somewhat disagree	17%

Strongly disagree	9%

14.	Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Biden is handling U.S.-Israel relations?


Strongly approve	6%

Somewhat approve	12%

So-so	22%

Somewhat disapprove	17%

Strongly disapprove	18%

Don't know	25%

	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

AJC 2021 Survey of Israeli Jewish Opinion

1.

As far as you know, how many Jews in total live in the Diaspora?

2.

What percentage of the world’s Jews live in the United States?

3.

What percentage of American Jews define themselves as Reform?

4.

Did you receive any formal or informal education about the Diaspora when you were growing up? If so, would you describe the education you received about Diaspora Jewry growing up as...

5.

(Among those who received education about Diaspora Jewry) Which of the following are places you learned about Diaspora Jewry (choose all that apply):

6.

How confident are you in your knowledge about the following topics?

The different denominations of American Judaism

Antisemitism in the Diaspora

7.

If you had the opportunity to learn more about American Jews, to what degree would you be interested in doing so?

8.

When thinking about Diaspora Jewry, which of these statements most closely represents how you feel?

9.

Do you think that a thriving Diaspora is or isn’t vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?

9a. (For those who responded “Vital” or “Somewhat Vital”) What is the most important reason that a thriving Diaspora is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?

9b. (For those who responded “Not very vital” or “Not vital at all”) What is the most important reason that you don’t think a thriving Diaspora is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?

10.

Have you ever visited the United States?

10a. (For those who have visited the United States) Would you say your visit/s to the United States...

11.

Which of the following relatives or friends, if any, currently live in the United States?

12.

Using the metaphor of a family, do you consider American Jews your…?

13.

Regarding the relations with Diaspora and American Jews, to what degree do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

All Jews are part of my family

I have a lot in common with American Jews

Israel is responsible for taking care of Jews in the Diaspora

14.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Biden is handling U.S.-Israel relations?

AJC 2021 Survey of American and Israeli Jewish Opinion

More General News

AJC 2021 Survey of Israeli Jewish Opinion

1.

As far as you know, how many Jews in total live in the Diaspora?

2.

What percentage of the world’s Jews live in the United States?

3.

What percentage of American Jews define themselves as Reform?

4.

Did you receive any formal or informal education about the Diaspora when you were growing up? If so, would you describe the education you received about Diaspora Jewry growing up as...

5.

(Among those who received education about Diaspora Jewry) Which of the following are places you learned about Diaspora Jewry (choose all that apply):

6.

How confident are you in your knowledge about the following topics?

The different denominations of American Judaism

Antisemitism in the Diaspora

7.

If you had the opportunity to learn more about American Jews, to what degree would you be interested in doing so?

8.

When thinking about Diaspora Jewry, which of these statements most closely represents how you feel?

9.

Do you think that a thriving Diaspora is or isn’t vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?

9a. (For those who responded “Vital” or “Somewhat Vital”) What is the most important reason that a thriving Diaspora is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?

9b. (For those who responded “Not very vital” or “Not vital at all”) What is the most important reason that you don’t think a thriving Diaspora is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?

10.

Have you ever visited the United States?

10a. (For those who have visited the United States) Would you say your visit/s to the United States...

11.

Which of the following relatives or friends, if any, currently live in the United States?

12.

Using the metaphor of a family, do you consider American Jews your…?

13.

Regarding the relations with Diaspora and American Jews, to what degree do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

All Jews are part of my family

I have a lot in common with American Jews

Israel is responsible for taking care of Jews in the Diaspora

14.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Biden is handling U.S.-Israel relations?

Share This

Share This

Sign Up to Stay Informed