Poll results cite antiSemitism from far right

American Jews believe antiSemitism is a problem in the United States and becoming more so, according to a poll released this week.

When asked how much of a problem “do you think antiSemitism is in the United States today,” 88 percent of Jews responded that it is either “a very serious problem” or “somewhat” of a problem, according to the poll released Wednesday by the American Jewish Congress.

When asked about sources of that rise in antiSemitism, 18 percent of respondents said the Democratic Party bears some responsibility.

That number rises to 54 percent when asked if the Republican Party bears some responsibility, with 17 percent saying the GOP bears “total responsibility”

for the current level of antiSemitism.

Almost 90 percent of Jews who responded said that the extreme political right presents an antiSe

mitic threat. Less, though, said the same about “extremism in the name of Islam” — only 85 percent said it represents an antiSemitic threat in the United States.

When asked the same about the extreme political left, 64 percent said it pre

sents an antiSemitic threat.

Though the majority of respondents said they had not been the victim of either a verbal or physical attack, many Jews said they did not openly identify their heritage — 31 percent said they have “avoided publicly wearing, carrying, or displaying things that might help people identify” them as Jewish. When asked about their own voting history, 61 percent of respondents said they voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election — 17 percent said they voted for Donald Trump.