RESEARCH FOR ACTION
While recognizing the growing diversity of views about Israel within the US Jewish community, how can Jewish spaces be more inclusive of different perspectives? A starting point is to understand the range of views among US Jews. To provide some of this picture, we analyzed data from surveys of 10 Jewish communities conducted by CMJS between 2020-24. Local Jewish community studies have traditionally included many questions about Israel, making these data particularly insightful for investigating this topic. Our analysis of nearly 20,000 responses from these surveys found areas where there is broader consensus about Israel, and others with stark divergences. Some of these findings are highlighted below. These trends are likely found in your community and point to the need for Jewish communities acknowledging and making room for a wide range of views about Israel. See the full data tables here.
| | For one third of Jewish adults in these communities, lack of Israel knowledge is a barrier to participation in conversations about Israel. | | |
Some organizations assume that lack of knowledge is one of the major barriers to participation in Israel-related discussions, and that this can be addressed by increased education. Although this is true for a significant share of the Jews we surveyed, the majority feel that lack of knowledge is not a barrier to participating in these discussions. Indeed, 37% of Jewish adults say that they strongly agree (11%) or sometimes agree (26%) that they often feel that they don’t know enough about the current situation to participate in conversations about Israel. However, the majority do not experience this barrier, with 31% strongly disagreeing and 28% somewhat disagreeing that lack of knowledge is a barrier. This pattern is true among Jews of different ages, political views, denominations, and levels of Jewish engagement.
In what ways can Jewish organizations ensure that conversations are inclusive to all who are interested and provide resources and education for those who need them?
| | At all levels of emotional attachment to Israel, the majority of Jewish adults in these communities feel that American Jews have the right to criticize Israel’s government. | | |
One area of disagreement among American Jews has been whether it is appropriate for US Jews to criticize the Israeli government. We found that 60% of US Jewish adults in these communities feel that they have the right to criticize Israel (41% strongly agree and 19% somewhat agree). Even among Jewish adults who feel the strongest emotional attachment to Israel, more than half feel that they have the right to criticize Israel, with 31% strongly agreeing and 24% somewhat agreeing. Among Jewish adults who are not at all attached to Israel, 53% strongly agree in the right to criticize Israel’s government and 7% somewhat agree.
How have these conversations played out in your community or organization?
| | Political views are strongly associated with the level of attachment to Israel and willingness to criticize Israel’s government. Politically liberal Jews are less attached to Israel and more willing to criticize Israel’s government. In contrast, politically conservative Jews are more attached to Israel and less willing to criticize its government. | | |
The majority of Jewish adults in our analysis (58%) are politically liberal (19% very liberal and 39% liberal). A smaller share are politically conservative, with 16% conservative and 3% very conservative. (Compared to the Pew 2020 study of all American Jews, our sample has more liberals and conservatives, and fewer moderates.)
As shown in the figures below, among very politically conservative Jews, 67% feel very attached to Israel, and 19% strongly agree that US Jews have the right to criticize Israel’s government. In contrast, among very liberal Jews, 20% feel very attached to Israel, and 62% strongly agree that US Jews have the right to criticize Israel’s government.
How can the understanding of the broader political context shape our communal discourse about Israel?
| | |
- Sigelman, C. K., Lane, J. D., & Friedman, S. L. (2025). Negative Beliefs, Sentiments, and Discriminatory Behavior Toward Jews: A Developmental Review. Review of General Psychology, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10892680251382811
| |
In the past year, CMJS has expanded its portfolio of local Jewish community studies. We have released new reports describing the population and characteristics of four US Jewish communities:
The 2024 Maine Jewish Community Study is the first ever in-depth assessment of the size and characteristics of the Jewish community throughout Maine, and the first study to cover Southern Maine since 2007. The study provides a comprehensive portrait of the state's 19,000 Jews.
Jewish Miami: A 2024 Community Study provides a snapshot of trends and developments in Jewish life and engagement. The study found that there are 69,700 Jewish households in the Miami Jewish community. These households include 151,400 individuals, of whom 130,100 are Jewish.
The 2024 Greater St. Louis Jewish Community Study documents a community undergoing both reurbanization and exurbanization. Greater St. Louis includes 45,800 Jewish adults and children living in 26,700 households; these households also include 12,600 adults and 2,800 children who are not Jewish.
The 2024 Northeast Florida Jewish Community Study finds a community that has grown rapidly, with one quarter of all Jewish adults having moved to the area within the previous five years.
|
| | | |
