Survey: A third of U.S. Jews have experienced antisemitism, 3/4 feel less safe

"One-third of American Jews said they were a target of an antisemitic incident in 2024, and 77 percent said they feel less safe as Jews in the United States, according to a survey released Wednesday by the American Jewish Committee (AJC).

The survey of 1,732 Jews, taken between October 8 and November 29, showed that perceptions of the threat of antisemitism had gotten worse in almost every category compared to 2023, the report’s authors noted. This was the sixth such annual survey conducted by the AJC.

Reports of antisemitic incidents have soared in the US and countries around the world since Hamas launched its war on Israel on October 7, 2023. The findings of the AJC report are in line with those of studies published by the Anti-Defamation League and other Jewish organizations.

‘Antisemitism has reached a tipping point in America, threatening the freedoms of American Jews and casting an ominous shadow across our society,’ said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. ‘This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for leaders across the U.S. We must act now to protect Jews – and America – from rising antisemitism. That one-third of American Jews have been the target of antisemitism in the past year should raise red flags for every American and our leaders.’

Some 33% of respondents said they had been the victim of an antisemitic attack, personal remark, vandalism, online post, or other form of antisemitism during 2024.

The survey found that 93% of respondents view antisemitism as a problem in the US, with 54% calling it a ‘very serious’ problem. Some 91% of respondents agreed that antisemitism has increased over the past five years, a figure that has risen consistently for four years in a row.

Some 56% of Jews said they changed their behavior in the past year due to antisemitism. This includes avoiding wearing certain clothing or symbols, going to certain places, and posting content online that would identify them as Jewish or reveal their views on Jewish issues.

Roughly seven in ten Jewish adults reported having experienced antisemitism online or on social media, including those who say they have been personally targeted and those who say they have seen or heard antisemitic incidents without being a target themselves.

One in three college students said they experienced antisemitism personally while in college, and 48% said they changed their behavior to avoid antisemitism during the past year, the report said..."