Bookstore Glossary Library Links News Publications Timeline Virtual Israel Experience
Anti-Semitism Biography History Holocaust Israel Israel Education Myths & Facts Politics Religion Travel US & Israel Vital Stats Women
donate subscribe Contact About Home

American Public Opinion Polls: Attitudes of American Jews

(August 2015)

Where would you place yourself on this scale?

Liberal

26.8%

Lean Liberal

18.3%

Moderate, Middle of the Road

33.8%

Lean Conservative

13.9%

Conservative

7.9%

In politics today, do you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent?

Republican

19%

Independent

32.1%

Democrat

48.6%

Here is the list of Democratic candidates, and the ten leading, based on criteria used to determine participation in the FOX News debate, Republican candidates for President. Who is currently your first choice for president? Second choice? Third choice?

 

First Choice

Second Choice

Third Choice

Jeb Bush

8.7%

8.2%

7.8%

Ben Carson

1.7%

6%

6.7%

Chris Christie

2.6%

5.9%

8.6%

Hillary Clinton

39.7%

19.5%

5.1%

Ted Cruz

1.8%

3.1%

1.6%

Mike Huckabee

1.6%

2.7%

2.7%

John Kasich

1.5%

3.8%

5.2%

Martin O'Malley

.6%

4%

9.5%

Rand Paul

3.8%

3.7%

1.8%

Marco Rubio

2.7%

5.5%

6.7%

Bernie Sanders

17.8%

20.5%

6.2%

Donald Trump

10.2%

5.6%

7.1%

Scott Walker

2.8%

2.1%

5.2%

Jim Webb

.4%

2%

7.8%

Among the following list of choices, what are the three most important issues, in order of priority, in deciding how you will vote in the 2016 presidential election (mark 1, 2, 3)?

 

First

Second

Third

Church-State Relations

.8%

1%

3.1%

Economy

41.7%

19.9%

12.4%

Health Care

12%

22.2%

12.8%

Immigration

3.7%

9.7%

11.5%

Income Innequality

11.6%

9.3%

8.4%

Iran's Nuclear Program

3.8%

6.3%

6.2%

National Security

12.3%

14.5%

15.3%

Race Relations

.3%

2.8%

7.8%

Supreme Court Appointments

5.6%

5.4%

9.1%

US-Israel Relations

7.2%

7.6%

11.1%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way that President Obama is handling US-Israel Relations?

Approve strongly

8.9%

Approve somewhat

40%

Disapprove somewhat

21.4%

Disapprove strongly

27.5%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way that President Obama is handling the threat posed by global terrorism?

Approve strongly

13.1%

Approve somewhat

40.7%

Disapprove somewhat

21.2%

Disapprove strongly

23.9%

Recently, the U.S., along with five other countries, reached a deal on Iran's nuclear program. Do you approve or disapprove of this agreement?

Approve strongly

16.4%

Approve somewhat

34.2%

Disapprove somewhat

19.8%

Disapprove strongly

27.4%

How confident are you that this agreement will prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons?

Very confident

4.9%

Somewhat confident

30.7%

Not very confident

30.1%

Not confident at all

33.2%

Will Israel's security be more threatened or less threatened by the Iran nuclear deal?

More threatened

42.8%

Less threatened

17.9%

Stay the same

37.8%

How confident are you about the ability of the U.S. and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) to monitor Iran's compliance?

Very confident

6.1%

Somewhat confident

37.8%

Not very confident

28.2%

Not confident at all

26.1%

What role do you think the U.S. should play in solving international problems?

The leading role

18.7%

A major role, but not the lead

60.8%

A minor role

15.1%

No role at all

4.6%

I would like you to rate your feelings towards some countries and international bodies, with 100 meaning a very warm, favorable feeling, 0 meaning a very cold, unfavorable feeling, and 50 meaning not particularly warm or cold. You can use any number from 0 to 100. How would you rate your feelings toward...

Argentina

51.35

Brazil

54.95

Canada

84.73

China

37.42

Egypt

38.07

The European Union

59.9

France

55.39

Germany

58.15

India

50.66

Japan

62.62

Jordan

42.07

Mexico

47.81

Russia

30.99

Saudi Arabia

29.27

Turkey

38.60

The United States

84.64

The United Nations

53.81

The Vatican

50.1

Which of these do you consider to be the greatest threat to the United States today?

China

12.8%

Iran

9.5%

ISIS

51%

North Korea

6%

Russia

10.1%

None of the above

8.2%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is handling the U.S.-Israel relationship?

Approve strongly

16.2%

Approve somewhat

39.2%

Disapprove somewhat

26.2%

Disapprove strongly

16%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is handling the U.S.-Israel relationship?

Approve strongly

19%

Approve somewhat

52%

Disapprove somewhat

23%

Disapprove strongly

4%

Compared to one year ago, do you think prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace have...

Increased

4.1%

Decreased

35.7%

Stayed the same

58.5%

How would you characterize the U.S.-Israel relationship today?

Very good

4.5%

Fairly good

48.7%

Fairly poor

32.7%

Very poor

7.9%

Is the U.S.-Israel relationship getting better or worse?

Better

4.7%

Worse

51.9%

Staying the same

42.2%

As part of a permanent settlement with the Palestinians, should Israel be willing to dismantle all, some, or none of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank?

All

14%

Some

44.9%

None

39.2%

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “The goal of the Arabs is not a peaceful two-state agreement with Israel, but rather the destruction of Israel.”

Agree

73.1%

Disagree

25.1%

Do you favor or oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state?

Favor

51.9%

Oppose

46.1%

Is anti-Semitism currently a problem in the United States?

Yes, it is a serious problem

20.8%

Yes, it is somewhat of a problem

64.2%

No, it is not a problem at all

13.8%

Is anti-Semitism currently a problem on American college campuses?

Yes, it is a serious problem

20.4%

Yes, it is somewhat of a problem

53.8%

No, it is not a problem at all

23.7%

Is anti-Semitism currently a problem in Europe?

Yes, it is a serious problem

45.5%

Yes, it is somewhat of a problem

44.4%

No, it is not a problem at all

7.9%

Do you think that Jews have a future in Europe?

Yes, Jews have a future in Europe

58.8%

No, Jews do not have a future in Europe

9.6%

Not sure

30.5%

Is anti-Semitism currently a problem in the Arab world?

Yes, it is a serious problem

75.5%

Yes, it is somewhat of a problem

19.2%

No, it is not a problem at all

3.8%

What do you consider yourself?

Orthodox

8.1%

Conservative

17.6%

Reconstructionist

1.3%

Reform

34.9%

Just Jewish

37%

How important is being Jewish in your life?

Very important

32.4%

Somewhat important

30.8%

Not very important

19.6%

Not important at all

16.6%

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “Caring about Israel is a very important part of my being a Jew.”

Agree strongly

32.8%

Agree somewhat

39%

Disagree somewhat

16.7%

Disagree strongly

10.4%

Which of these statements best represents your opinion of the role of religion in the State of Israel?

Religion should play more of a role

9.3%

Religion should play less of a role

25.2%

The current situation is best

26.4%

There should be separation of religion and state

37%


Source: American Jewish Committee, "2015 AJC Survey of American Jewish Opinion," AJC. Conducted August 7 - 22, 2015.