New Data Reveals the Lives of Jews in US; 'No One in America Should Have to Change Their Behavior Because of What They Believe'
91% of American Jews say they feel less safe as a Jewish person in the United States due to violent attacks in the past year.
Last fall, my colleagues at Nashville’s NewsChannel 5 and I had a chance to engage in an extended conversation with members of Nashville’s Jewish community about the hate that has become an ever-present force in their lives.
“Even though we want to be joyous, right now we’re scared, and we are worried,” said Felicia Anchor, whose parents both lost their entire families in the Holocaust. Anchor herself was born in a displaced persons camp.
“In our souls, in every person’s soul sitting here, we know how bad it can get – and it can get to our life.”
Jennie Zagnoev agreed.
“ I feel like the last few years have given people the confidence to just be antisemitic—and it has given people the confidence to say whatever they want at any time, at any place, no matter who it hurts.”
For Zagnoev, that has led to some conversations with her family that she never had to face as a young Jewish girl growing up in Nashville.
“We are now having to have conversations about me not being able to wear my star of David that was given to me as a birthday present or my kids having to be careful who they tell they’re Jewish,” Zagnoev explained.
Those sentiments are now confirmed by a new survey just released by the American Jewish Committee.
Below is from the AJC website:
American Jewish Committee’s State of Antisemitism in America 2025 Report found that the vast majority (91%) of American Jews say they feel less safe as a Jewish person in the United States as a result of the arson attack during Passover on the Pennsylvania Governor’s residence, the murders of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky outside the Capital Jewish Museum following an AJC event, and the firebombing of a Boulder, CO, march in support of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
“We need Americans to wake up to the reality of what their Jewish neighbors are experiencing,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch.
“Right now, in America, when Jews gather, whether at synagogue or a community event, it’s routinely behind metal detectors and armed guards. No one in America should have to change their behavior because of what they believe, but that’s how most Jews are living their lives.
“What we’re asking for is what every other minority group expects in America: the freedom to be who we are without fearing for our safety.”
Key Findings:
91% of American Jews say they feel less safe as a Jewish person in the United States due to violent attacks in the past year including the burning of a Jewish governor’s home, the firebombing of Jews in Boulder, CO, and the murders at the Capital Jewish Museum.
78% of American Jews say they feel less safe as a Jewish person in the U.S. because of the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks.
More than half (55%) of American Jews say they changed their behavior in the past year out of fear of antisemitism.
86% of American Jews say antisemitism has increased in the U.S. since the Hamas terrorist attacks.
Almost one-third (31%) of American Jews say they have been the personal target of antisemitism—in person or virtually—at least once over the last year.
The vast majority of U.S. Jews (88%) express that seeing or hearing ‘Globalize the Intifada’ would make them feel unsafe as a Jewish person in the U.S. to some degree—ranging from “not too unsafe” (19%) to “somewhat unsafe” (42%) to “very unsafe” (27%). By comparison, just 12% of U.S. Jews say the phrase would not make them feel unsafe at all.
Click here to read the full report.
What do you think?
I grew up in Nashville among many Jews, just after Belle Meade Country Club opened its membership to Jews. I went to Overton for 7th and 8th grades when it was a 7-12 grade school, and later BGA (quite a few Jews) while my girlfriend went to Hillwood a school that was I think majority Jews. I have always been a Jewish apologist. I remain a strong friend of the Jews.
During recent decades the country of Israel has transformed itself from “a beacon of democracy” into an autocracy that i think of as an auxiliary member of the axis of evil. I do not conflate persons of Jewish heritage with the political leadership of the State of Israel. For the former I remain loyal and respectful. For the people of the State of Israel at present I am dismayed and sorrowful. As a US citizen, I will continue to support and take personal action to depose Trump and Netanyahu from their positions as heads of governments.