Dear John, our latest report on antisemitic attitudes is stunning and sobering...

In a comprehensive survey released today, we found that the number of people in the U.S. who harbor extensive prejudice against Jews has doubled since 2019 to the highest level in decades.

When coupled with our most recent audit of antisemitic incidents, which showed surging levels of incidents, these findings about antisemitic attitudes should be a wake-up call. From Charlottesville to Pittsburgh to Poway and Colleyville together with the near-daily harassment of Jews, especially in major cities, we have learned that antisemitic beliefs can lead to violence.

ADL has been conducting these attitude surveys since the 1960s, and in some respects, this one is the most alarming.

The Alarming Findings

The survey asked more than 4,000 U.S. adults about anti-Jewish tropes and found that 20 percent of respondents — representing as many as 52 million people in the U.S. — agreed with six or more of the 11 anti-Jewish statements we asked them about.

Among the findings: 20 percent say Jews have “too much power” in the United States; 21 percent agree that Jews “don’t care about anyone other than themselves” and 53 percent say that Jews will go out of their way to hire other Jews. These findings reveal substantial beliefs that Jews are too powerful, selfish and insular.

A high number of those surveyed in the report harbor extremely negative views about Israel and people who support Israel, including 18 percent who say they are uncomfortable spending time with a pro-Israel person. Younger adults hold significantly more negative sentiment toward Israel and its supporters.

Taking Action

Here are several ADL resources you may find useful in understanding and confronting antisemitism:

• Antisemitism Uncovered: A Guide to Anti-Jewish Tropes
• Report Antisemitic Incidents to ADL
• Think. Plan. Act. Tools for Dealing with Antisemitic and Anti-Israel Incidents on Campus

As concerning as these findings are, they will help us to develop more effective interventions to fight antisemitism. We will continue to work with partners from across the Jewish community and with civil rights organizations to refine strategies for addressing the root causes of anti-Jewish hate.

Thank you for all you do to Fight Hate for Good with ADL,

Jonathan Greenblatt

CEO and National Director

ADL