According to a recent study by the American Jewish Committee, more than 40 percent of Jews in the United States believe their standing is less safe than it was a year ago.
The study, carried out in the fall of 2022, was made public on Monday by the AJC, a well-known Jewish advocacy group.
High Profile Antisemitism
The study was conducted amid a year that saw several high-profile antisemitic occurrences, including hostage-taking at a Texas congregation and anti-Jewish comments made by famous people on social media.
Former President Donald Trump was criticized by his own Jewish supporters for having dinner with two overtly antisemitic individuals.
According to a survey conducted by the American Jewish Committee, 41% of respondents said the status of Jews in the U.S. is less secure than it was the year before, while 55% said it was the same. Only 4% thought it was more secure. https://t.co/mOa25mCkJh
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) February 13, 2023
Per the AJC study, 41% of participants claimed that compared to the previous year, the position of Jews in the United States is less secure, while 55% answered that it remains the same. .
According to the findings, anxiety levels had risen since a similar study in 2021, when 31% of participants said their standing was less secure than it had been the previous year.
In the 2022 study, four out of five Jews claimed antisemitism increased over the previous five years; over half claimed it was treated less seriously than other types of intolerance or hatred.
One-fourth of the participants reported being targeted explicitly by antisemitic remarks, either in person or online. 3% reported experiencing a physical attack. Almost four out of ten people altered their behavior to reduce the dangers to their safety.
Similarly, almost four out of ten people said they avoided displaying apparent signs of their Jewishness in public, including wearing a skullcap. Few people reported doing the same things at work or on campus.
Additional Observations and Actions
Nearly 90% of American Jews, as well as the same proportion of the nation’s overall population, now consider antisemitism to be a significant issue, up from 73% in 2016.
The percentage of Jews who believe law enforcement is suitably sensitive to antisemitism fell from 81% in 2019 to 63% in 2022, a significant decrease.
The poll gathered information from 1,507 persons who identified as Jewish, representing a nationally representative sample. It took place from September 28 to November 3.
In the United States, reports of antisemitic events are virtually every day. For instance, a lot of antisemitic pamphlets were handed out earlier this month in suburban Atlanta, including at the residence of Georgia’s sole Jewish state senator.
Speaker Jon Burns began today's session by addressing antisemitic flyers on driveways in northern Fulton County communities this weekend. He called the incident 'respulsive.'
Rep. Esther Panitch, who was personally targeted, also spoke on multiple recent acts of antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/1jrDpyl5w6
— GPB News (@gpbnews) February 6, 2023
The partner of VP Kamala Harris, Doug Emhoff, took his anti-antisemitism campaign to the United Nations on Thursday. He emphasized “silence is not an option” and urged diplomatic staff from many countries to speak out against the rising anti-Jewish sentiment worldwide.
Emhoff cited high-profile artists and politicians who openly use antisemitic cliches, celebrity comedians who frequently use antisemitism to get cheap laughs, and other individuals who make remarks filled with overt innuendo.
The January hostage situation at the Congregation Beth Israel House of Worship in Colleyville, Texas was one of the most shocking antisemitic acts of 2022.
Four synagogue attendees were held captive by a British guy brandishing a weapon for ten hours before they were freed; the captor was slain by the FBI.
This article appeared in The Political Globe and has been published here with permission.
