Quarter of American Jews targeted by antisemitism in the past year, survey reveals

ALMOST ONE in four American Jews have been the target of antisemitism over the past year, according to the American Jewish Committee (AJC).

The startling findings in the biggest survey of its kind also reveal that 39 per cent of those polled have changed their behaviour because of their fears at being identified as Jews.

Almost a quarter – 24 per cent – of American Jews said that they had been a victim of antisemitism, and 17 per cent said that they had been the targets of antisemitic remarks in person.

Three per cent reported having been the victims of physical assaults – a figure which would represent thousands of incidents if extrapolated across the Jewish population of the US.

Many had decided against wearing or carrying items such as a yarmulke that might identity them as Jewish (22 per cent), while 17 per cent were concerned enough to avoid particular places, situations or events.

Of Jews aged 18 to 29, more than half (52 per cent) said they had changed their behaviour or hidden their Jewish identity out of fear of antisemitism – a greater proportion than in any other age group. Among Orthodox Jews as a whole, 57 per cent said they had taken

Almost half have changed their behaviour out of fear

similar action out of concern for their safety or wellbeing.

The AJC’s 2021 State Of Antisemitism report comes in a year marred by a wave of antisemitic incidents, particularly during the conflict between Israel and Hamas in May, including assaults on Jews, vandalism of synagogues and Jewish schools and blatantly hateful content on social media.

The report is based on two polls: one of American Jews and one of the general population. The results revealed stark contrasts in perceptions of antisemitism. Although 82 per cent of American Jews believe antisemitism has got worse in the US over the past five years, barely half of all Americans agreed – just 44 per cent.

Just 60 per cent of Americans view antisemitism as a problem, against 90 per cent of American Jews. Of Americans aged 65 or over, 70 per cent say antisemitism is a problem, but just 52 per cent aged 18 to 35.

Opinion research firm SSRS spoke to 1,433 adults for the largest ever poll of Jews on antisemitism in the US, and 1,214 adults for the general survey.