DALLAS — The American Jewish Committee attempts to quantify the state of antisemitism in the United States in a survey every year. But this year, with October 7 hostages still unaccounted for, and with Israel still on the offensive in Gaza to root out Hamas, "The State of Antisemitism in America 2023" shows an ever-increasing level of concern.
"If, before October 7, antisemitism was a slow-burning fire," said AJC CEO Ted Deutch, "it has now become a five-alarm emergency that requires all of us to douse its flames."
Highlights of this year's survey, taken in the weeks immediately after the Hamas attack in October, show that 63% of American Jews say the status of Jews in the U.S. is less secure compared to one year ago: up from 41% in 2022 and 31% in 2021.
Also, 78% of American Jews who heard about the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel say the attacks made them feel less safe as a Jewish person in the U.S.
In addition, 46% of American Jews say they have altered their behavior out of fear of antisemitism, an 8% jump from the previous year.
And 1 in 4 current or recent college students say they have avoided wearing, carrying, or displaying clothing or other things that would identify them as Jewish out of fear of antisemitism.
The survey of American Jews and a companion survey of the U.S. general public shows that "antisemitism is a longstanding, serious threat in the U.S. — one that has only increased since October 7."
"So it is very personal," said Joel Schwitzer, the Regional Director of AJC Dallas, when asked about the blue ribbon he wears on his lapel in honor of the hostages still held by Hamas, including a family friend.
Video taken by the attackers that day included graphic images of Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg Polin. With an arm severed by a grenade attack, he was loaded into a truck and driven into Gaza. To date, he is still unaccounted for and believed among the 133 hostages still held by Hamas.
"Loss of life is tragic and regrettable and should be mourned on both sides of this conflict," Schwitzer said. "It's been gut-wrenching to watch."
Schwitzer also admits, that while recent graffiti at the home of Dallas City Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn may be evidence of an increase in antisemitism, that Islamophobia is on the rise too. The Council on American-Islamic Relations says it is also tracking an increase in hate crimes, including the stabbing of Palestinian-American Zachariah Doar at a rally in Austin earlier this month.
"He swung it around. He wanted to kill," Doar told WFAA of his attacker.
So, Schwitzer says a coalition of Jewish and Muslim leaders in North Texas continue to work together.
"Our coalition realizes that many of us have strong opinions about what's happening in the Middle East. But we also have lives together in the same community here in north Texas and we have to be able to get along over here."
But in a long list of numbers showing antisemitism on the rise in America, Joel Schwitzer also sees hope. The 2023 survey shows that 9 out of 10 Americans recognize that antisemitism isn't just a problem for Jewish Americans to solve alone.
"Most Americans understand that we all need to roll up our sleeves together to fight the conspiratorial scourge that is antisemitism," he said. "That it is a whole of society problem that mandates a whole of society response."
If you would like to read the survey results and its recommendations, you can find the link here.