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19% of Americans have a family member or friend that they know dislikes Jews
New York, NY, May 4, 2023 … Most Americans are exposed to anti-Jewish and anti-Israel comments from popular culture, politicians and social media, while friends or family appear to have a stronger influence on beliefs about Jews and Israel than other sources, according to new insights from the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) Survey of Antisemitic Attitudes in America.
In January 2023, ADL released topline survey findings showing the highest percentage of respondents harboring extensive antisemitic prejudice in decades. This new report focuses on the environments where antisemitic and anti-Israel attitudes spread. Researchers asked questions to uncover how frequently respondents hear antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric across a variety of political, religious, media and social sources.
“While Americans are bombarded with antisemitic and anti-Israel messaging all across our public discourse, families and friends have the biggest role in fueling this hate,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “This underscores a key component of ADL’s work: it is incredibly important that we continue to meet people where they are and be visible fighting hate in communities all over the country.”
Between one-fifth and one-third of those polled reported hearing anti-Jewish comments “often” or “sometimes” from the political, cultural and media sources. Respondents also reported hearing such comments much less frequently from family, friends and religious surroundings.
The most common sources of overheard antisemitic comments were from politicians (7 percent “often,” 22 percent “sometimes”); followed by TV, movies and popular culture (6 percent “often,” 20 percent “sometimes”); and social media (6 percent “often,” 19 percent “sometimes”).
Family was the least common source of antisemitic remarks: The poll found 78 percent of those polled “never” hear anti-Jewish comments from their family, and just 2 percent of people reported hearing anti-Jewish comments from family “often;” another 6 percent indicated they heard comments from family “sometimes.”
Researchers found, however, that the number of family and friends who like or dislike Jews was strongly associated with an individual’s anti-Jewish attitudes. People who reported having more friends or family members who dislike Jews, believed, on average, significantly more anti-Jewish tropes.
These findings included:
- 19 percent of Americans have a family member or friend that they know dislikes Jews.
- 14 percent of people at least sometimes hear anti-Jewish comments from religious organizations.
- 7 percent of Americans “often” hear anti-Jewish comments from politicians.
- Respondents who reported having zero friends or family members who dislike Jews believed, on average, 3.3 anti-Jewish tropes. In contrast, those who said they had between one and five friends or family members who disliked Jews believed, on average, 5.5 hateful tropes (an increase of 1.83).
- Respondents who said they had six or more friends or family members who dislike Jews believed 6.8 anti-Jewish tropes on average, an overall increase of 3.95.
- As was the case with anti-Jewish attitudes, researchers found that the number of one’s friends and family who dislike or like Jews had an impact on one’s attitudes toward Israel. Respondents with more friends or family members who dislike Jews agreed with a slightly higher number of anti-Israel statements.
The nationally representative survey of more than 4,000 Americans was conducted in September and October 2022 by the ADL Center on Antisemitism Research in partnership with the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago in an effort to better understand attitudes toward Jews and Israel in the United States.
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all.