Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Tensions Between Some Tahoe Residents and Wildlife Workers Become Unbearable

58 minutes ago

California Republican Leader Calls for ‘Two State Solution’ Amid Redistricting Fight

2 hours ago

Three Dead in Minneapolis Shooting, Including Shooter, Justice Department Official Says

3 hours ago

Israeli Tanks Close in on Gaza City, Trump to Chair Meeting

4 hours ago

Wall Street Opens Muted in Countdown to Nvidia Earnings

4 hours ago

Fresno Leaders Voice ‘Full Support’ for Pismo’s Restaurant Manager in ICE Custody

21 hours ago

Poll: Katie Porter Holds Early Edge in California Governor’s Race

23 hours ago

Just 38% of Americans Support Trump’s Use of Troops to Police DC, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

24 hours ago

California Farming Couple Seeks $300 Million for Aspen Estate

1 day ago
New Survey of US Jews Reveals Worries, Strengths, Divisions
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 years ago on
May 12, 2021

Share

A comprehensive new survey of Jewish Americans finds them increasingly worried about antisemitism, proud of their cultural heritage and sharply divided about the importance of religious observance in their lives.

The survey, released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center, estimated the total Jewish population in the country at 7.5 million — about 2.3% of the national population.

The survey of 4,178 Jewish Americans was conducted between November 2019 and June 2020 — long before the current escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the findings reflected skepticism among U.S. Jews regarding that conflict — only one-third said the Israeli government was sincere in seeking peace; just 12% said Palestinian leaders were sincere in that regard.

Concerns Rise About Antisemitism

Compared with Americans overall, Jewish Americans, on average, are older, have higher levels of education and income and are more geographically concentrated in the Northeast, according to Pew.

Yet even as the Jewish population is thriving in many ways, concerns about antisemitism rose amid the deadly attacks in 2018 and 2019 on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh; the Chabad of Poway synagogue in Poway, California; and a kosher grocery store in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Three-quarters of Jewish Americans say there is more antisemitism in the U.S. than five years ago, and 53% say they feel less safe. Jews who wear distinctive religious attire such as head coverings are particularly likely to feel less safe.

The impact of such worries on people’s behavior seems limited: Pew reported that the vast majority of American Jews — including those who feel less safe — say concern about antisemitism hasn’t deterred them from participating in Jewish observances and events.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union of Reform Judaism, said American Jews believe they are being singled out for attacks and vitriol, yet also see antisemitism as part of a broader national problem of bigotry and intolerance.

“We have to get a lid on the tolerance of intolerance in the United States,” he told The Associated Press. “Hatred and bigotry existed before five or six years ago, but in recent years it has become OK to do it in a very public, unrestrained way.”

Jews Notably Less Religious Than U.S. Adults Overall

According to Pew’s criteria, Jews are notably less religious than American adults as a whole. For example, 21% said religion is very important in their lives, compared with 41% of U.S. adults overall. A majority of U.S. adults say they believe in God “as described in the Bible,” compared with 26% of Jews. And 12% of Jewish Americans say they attend religious services at least weekly, versus 27% of the general public.

Orthodox Jews stand apart in this regard. They are among the most religious groups in U.S. society in terms of the share — 86% — who say religion is very important in their lives, compared with 78% of Black Protestants and 76% of white evangelicals.

According to Pew, 9% of U.S. Jews describe themselves as Orthodox. Far more belong to the two long-dominant branches of American Judaism: 37% identify as Reform and 17% as Conservative. More than one in four don’t identify with any particular branch yet consider themselves to be Jewish ethnically, culturally or by family background.

More Racially and Ethnically Diverse

Interfaith marriage is commonplace: 42% of married Jewish adults said they had a non-Jewish spouse, according to Pew.

Jacobs said he wants Reform congregations to embrace this phenomenon rather than view it as a sign of demise.

“Intermarriage can expand who’s part of the Jewish community,” he said. “You see Black, brown, Asian families choosing to be a part of Jewish life.”

Pew found evidence that the U.S. Jewish population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. Overall, 92% of Jewish adults identify as non-Hispanic white, and 8% identify with all other categories combined. But among Jews ages 18 to 29, that figure rises to 15%.

Pew’s survey suggests other generational changes are unfolding. For example, among Jews ages 18 to 29, 17% self-identify as Orthodox, compared with just 3% of those 65 and older. And among Jewish adults under 30, 37% identify with either Reform or Conservative Judaism, compared with about 70% of those 65 and older.

Politically Tend to Lean Towards the Democratic Party

Politically, U.S. Jews on the whole tend to support the Democratic Party. In the survey, which was conducted months before the 2020 election, 71% said they were Democrats or leaned Democratic.

But Orthodox Jews have moved in the opposite direction: 75% of them said they were Republicans or leaned Republican, compared with 57% in 2013. And 86% of them rated Donald Trump’s handling of policy toward Israel as “excellent” or “good,” while a majority of all U.S. Jews described it as “only fair” or “poor.”

While there are signs of political polarization among U.S. Jews, the survey also found areas of consensus. For instance, more than 80% say they feel at least some sense of belonging to the Jewish people, and three-quarters say “being Jewish” is very or somewhat important to them.

Maintaining Solidarity as a Community

Pew asked respondents which of various causes and activities are “essential,” “important but not essential” or “not important” to what being Jewish means to them. More than 70% said remembering the Holocaust and leading a moral and ethical life are essential, and 59% cited working for social justice.

Rabbi Noah Farkas of Valley Beth Shalom, a Conservative synagogue in Encino, California, said he hopes Jewish Americans can maintain solidarity even as their ranks diversify and many forego religious observance.

“It is our imperative to find ways to be nimble and compelling enough for the Jews to want to invest their time and resources in the broader community,” he said via email. “So the struggle for me is not the identity, but the practice of Jewish life and how we hold a community together when others are trying to tear us apart.”

Rabbi Motti Seligson, media director of the Hasidic organization Chabad-Lubavitch, expressed pride and optimism as the ranks of young Orthodox Jews remain robust. Yet he commended other young adults who don’t identify as religious but still embrace Jewish culture and traditions.

“They are eschewing the old construct of denominational affiliation and choosing a Jewish lifestyle that is uniquely their own yet ultimately connected to their people and heritage,” he said.

Pew’s survey was conducted online and by mail; the margin of error for questions posed to all respondents was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Grand Jury Declines to Indict Man Arrested for Throwing Sandwich at US Agent, Source Says

DON'T MISS

Planned Visit by US Envoy Sparks Protests in Southern Lebanon

DON'T MISS

Tensions Between Some Tahoe Residents and Wildlife Workers Become Unbearable

DON'T MISS

California’s Environmental Agency Investigated by US Justice Department

DON'T MISS

California Republican Leader Calls for ‘Two State Solution’ Amid Redistricting Fight

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Find Two Narcotics Labs, Firearms in Southeast Home

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Garnet Fire Grows to More Than 9,000 Acres in Sierra National Forest

DON'T MISS

Three Dead in Minneapolis Shooting, Including Shooter, Justice Department Official Says

DON'T MISS

TikTok Owner ByteDance Sets Valuation at Over $330 Billion as Revenue Grows, Sources Say

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Fatal Collision Under Investigation Near Kerman

UP NEXT

Poll: Katie Porter Holds Early Edge in California Governor’s Race

UP NEXT

Coarsegold Elementary Briefly Locked Down After Student Brings Starter Pistol

UP NEXT

California Farming Couple Seeks $300 Million for Aspen Estate

UP NEXT

Trump Media, Crypto.com Announce Deal to Form Crypto Treasury Firm

UP NEXT

Fox Channels May Go Dark on YouTube TV From Wednesday Over Payment Dispute

UP NEXT

CA Bill To Give Interest On Insurance Payments To Homeowners

UP NEXT

Trump To Sign Executive Order Directing AG To Prosecute Flag Desecration

UP NEXT

Trump Signs Orders Aimed At Ending Cashless Bail Policies

UP NEXT

California Cities Lack Unified Response On Homeless Encampments

UP NEXT

California Voters Still Support High-Speed Rail, Even If It Never Gets Done

California’s Environmental Agency Investigated by US Justice Department

60 minutes ago

California Republican Leader Calls for ‘Two State Solution’ Amid Redistricting Fight

2 hours ago

Fresno Police Find Two Narcotics Labs, Firearms in Southeast Home

2 hours ago

Fresno County Garnet Fire Grows to More Than 9,000 Acres in Sierra National Forest

2 hours ago

Three Dead in Minneapolis Shooting, Including Shooter, Justice Department Official Says

3 hours ago

TikTok Owner ByteDance Sets Valuation at Over $330 Billion as Revenue Grows, Sources Say

3 hours ago

Fresno County Fatal Collision Under Investigation Near Kerman

3 hours ago

Israel’s Gaza Campaign Is Making It a Pariah State

3 hours ago

Trump Administration Plans to Take Control of Washington Union Station

4 hours ago

Israeli Tanks Close in on Gaza City, Trump to Chair Meeting

4 hours ago

Grand Jury Declines to Indict Man Arrested for Throwing Sandwich at US Agent, Source Says

WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury declined to indict a former Justice Department staffer who was arrested for throwing a sandwich at a feder...

28 minutes ago

A person walks past signs depicting a man throwing a sandwich, used as a symbol of protest, after U.S. President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard and ordered an increased presence of federal law enforcement to assist in crime prevention, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 23, 2025. (Reuters File)
28 minutes ago

Grand Jury Declines to Indict Man Arrested for Throwing Sandwich at US Agent, Source Says

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and U.S. special envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack speaks after meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (not pictured) at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon August 26, 2025. (Reuters/Mohamed Azakir)
34 minutes ago

Planned Visit by US Envoy Sparks Protests in Southern Lebanon

Bear at the counter of a South Lake Tahoe ice cream shop
58 minutes ago

Tensions Between Some Tahoe Residents and Wildlife Workers Become Unbearable

A U.S. Justice Department logo or seal showing Justice Department headquarters, known as "Main Justice," is seen behind the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room before a news conference with the Attorney General in Washington, January 24, 2023. (Reuters File)
60 minutes ago

California’s Environmental Agency Investigated by US Justice Department

California Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher proposed splitting the state into two, calling it a “two state solution” to separate inland GOP areas from coastal Democratic strongholds amid a redistricting battle. (GV Wire Composite)
2 hours ago

California Republican Leader Calls for ‘Two State Solution’ Amid Redistricting Fight

Fresno police discovered two narcotics labs, multiple firearms, and operating slot machines during a probation check, leading to three arrests. (Fresno PD)
2 hours ago

Fresno Police Find Two Narcotics Labs, Firearms in Southeast Home

The Garnet Fire in Fresno County’s Sierra National Forest has burned 9,170 acres with no containment as crews focus on protecting PG&E infrastructure near Balch Camp, the U.S. Forest Service said Wednesday, August 27, 2025. (U.S. Forest Service)
2 hours ago

Fresno County Garnet Fire Grows to More Than 9,000 Acres in Sierra National Forest

Photo of caution tape
3 hours ago

Three Dead in Minneapolis Shooting, Including Shooter, Justice Department Official Says

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend