Survey Finds Rising Antisemitism Among U.S. Jews

• Survey finds rising antisemitism among U.S. Jews.
• Many Jews conceal identity over safety fears.
• Majority report feeling less safe than before.
• Survey urges stronger action against antisemitism.

A majority of Jewish Americans say they experienced antisemitism over the past year, with many increasingly concealing their religious identity or changing their daily behavior because they fear becoming targets, according to a nationwide survey released by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations.

The survey found that 57% of Jewish adults reported experiencing some form of antisemitism during the past 12 months, equivalent to an estimated 3.3 million Jewish adults and approximately 250,000 children living in affected households. Researchers said the findings suggest antisemitism has become an increasingly common part of everyday life for many Jewish Americans, extending from online spaces to workplaces, neighborhoods and public settings.

The report comes amid heightened concern over antisemitic incidents in the United States following the Israel-Hamas war, with law enforcement agencies, civil rights organizations and Jewish advocacy groups reporting sustained increases in hate crimes and anti-Jewish rhetoric across the country.

According to the survey, 38% of respondents said they now hide clothing, jewelry or other items identifying them as Jewish, while 32% avoid posting Jewish-related content on social media. Another 23% said they had skipped Jewish events, religious services or cultural observances because of security concerns.

“These findings are a stark reminder that antisemitism is a lived daily reality for Jewish Americans,” said Alyza D. Lewin, CAM’s president of U.S. affairs.

“The more openly Jewish you are, the more likely you are to experience antisemitism. Unsurprisingly, as a result, Jews are changing their behavior and thinking twice about how openly Jewish to be,” she said.

The survey questioned 1,060 Jewish American adults and was conducted by Dr. Ira Sheskin of the University of Miami and administered by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago. Researchers reported a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

Online Abuse and Public Harassment Drive Growing Safety Concerns

The survey found that concerns extend beyond isolated incidents to broader perceptions of personal safety.

Among respondents, 58% said they feel less safe than they did a year ago, while 59% reported encountering antisemitic content online. Nearly half (47%) said they had heard antisemitic stereotypes or tropes during the past year, and 10% reported that online antisemitic content had been directed at them personally.

Researchers also found that Jewish Americans who visibly express their faith or actively participate in Jewish communal life reported the highest rates of antisemitic incidents, concluding that greater public visibility corresponded with increased exposure to harassment.

Beyond digital abuse, 36% of respondents reported seeing antisemitic graffiti or vandalism in their communities, another 36% said they had heard antisemitic slurs or jokes from neighbors or colleagues, and 8% reported being physically threatened or assaulted because they were Jewish.

FBI Data Shows Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes Remain the Largest Religious Category

The survey’s findings broadly align with official U.S. government data showing that Jewish communities continue to experience a disproportionate share of religion-based hate crimes.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2024 Hate Crime Statistics, anti-Jewish incidents accounted for the largest proportion of reported religion-based hate crimes in the United States, continuing a pattern observed over several years. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has also documented record levels of antisemitic incidents since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, including assaults, vandalism and harassment across schools, universities and public spaces.

Civil rights organizations caution that reported hate crime statistics likely understate the true scale of the problem because reporting remains voluntary for many law enforcement agencies and many victims choose not to file complaints.

The CAM survey found that despite growing concerns, 40% of respondents said a non-Jewish individual had expressed solidarity or support for them during the past year, suggesting community outreach efforts have accompanied the rise in antisemitic incidents.

Survey Highlights Broad Support for International Definition of Antisemitism

Researchers also measured public support for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, which has become a focal point in debates over hate speech and discrimination policies.

After reading the definition, 71% of respondents said it accurately described antisemitism, while more than two-thirds supported its adoption by governments, universities and other institutions. Only 4% opposed wider adoption.

“The data is clear. The mandate is clear,” Lewin said. “It’s time to adopt the IHRA definition and get to work protecting the ability of Jews in America to openly, proudly and safely embrace their Jewish shared ancestry, history and heritage.”

Aaron Keyak, CAM’s special representative on international affairs and former U.S. deputy special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, said the findings underscore the need for bipartisan action.

“This new data only confirms what we in the Jewish community already know antisemitism is a threat that must be addressed with the seriousness that such a deadly reality demands,” he said.

Antisemitism Expected to Remain a National Policy Focus

The latest findings provide one of the most comprehensive snapshots of Jewish Americans’ experiences since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, building on a similar CAM survey conducted in 2024 to measure changes in public attitudes and reported incidents.

The survey also comes as federal and state authorities continue expanding efforts to combat antisemitism through campus security initiatives, hate crime investigations and educational programs.