AJC Surveys of Israeli Jewish Opinion
(2018 - 2021)
Using the metaphor of a family, do you consider American Jews as your...?
|
2018
|
2019
|
2021
|
|
| Siblings |
28%
|
31% |
24% |
| First Cousins |
10%
|
11% |
18% |
| Extended Family |
40%
|
36% |
45% |
Not Part of my Family |
22%
|
23%
|
14% |
Regarding the relations with Diaspora and American Jews, to what degree do you agree or disagree with the following statements? All Jews are part of my family
|
2021
|
|
| Strongly agree |
27% |
| Somewhat agree |
32%
|
| So-so |
22% |
| Somewhat disagree |
11% |
| Strongly disagree |
7%
|
Regarding the relations with Diaspora and American Jews, to what degree do you agree or disagree with the following statements? I have a lot in common with American Jews
|
2021
|
|
| Strongly agree |
12% |
| Somewhat agree |
26%
|
| So-so |
32% |
| Somewhat disagree |
20% |
| Strongly disagree |
10%
|
Regarding the relations with Diaspora and American Jews, to what degree do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Israel is responsible for taking care of Jews in the Diaspora
|
2021
|
|
| Strongly agree |
16% |
| Somewhat agree |
30%
|
| So-so |
29% |
| Somewhat disagree |
17% |
| Strongly disagree |
9%
|
Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Biden is handling U.S.-Israel Relations?
|
2021
|
|
| Strongly approve |
6% |
| Somewhat approve |
12% |
| So-so | 22% |
| Somewhat disapprove |
17% |
| Strongly disapprove |
18% |
| Don't Know |
25% |
As far as you know, how many Jews in total live in the Diaspora?
|
2021
|
|
| 1-4 million |
10% |
| 5-9 million |
47% |
| Over 10 million | 30% |
| Don’t know | 12% |
What percentage of the world’s Jews live in the United States?
|
2021
|
|
| Less than one-third |
10% |
| One-third to less than two-thirds |
51% |
| Over 10 million | 30% |
| Don’t know | 12% |
What percentage of American Jews define themselves as Reform?
|
2021
|
|
| Between 1-25% |
19% |
| Between 26-50% |
39% |
| Over 50% | 23% |
| Don’t know | 20% |
Did you receive any formal or informal education about the Diaspora when you were growing up? If so, would you describe the education you received about Diaspora Jewry growing up as...
|
2021
|
|
| Very comprehensive |
3% |
| Somewhat comprehensive |
8%
|
|
So-so |
20% |
| Not very comprehensive |
22% |
| Not comprehensive at all |
15% |
| I didn’t receive any education about the Diaspora |
32%
|
Which of the following relatives or friends, if any, currently live in the United States?
|
2021
|
|
| Members of your extended family |
33% |
| Close friends |
15%
|
|
More distant family or friends |
25% |
| Immediate family relatives |
14% |
| None of the above |
33% |
(Among those who received education about Diaspora Jewry) Which of the following are places you learned about Diaspora Jewry (choose all that apply):
|
2021
|
|
| School |
61% |
| Youth group |
11%
|
|
Summer program |
6% |
| Army |
18% |
| Course in university |
20% |
| Program with American participants, such as Birthright |
8%
|
| Working in/with the American Jewish community (e.g., shlichut, shinshin) |
6%
|
| Other extended stay in the United States |
5%
|
| Family or friends |
26%
|
| Television/movies |
29%
|
| None of the above |
5%
|
How confident are you in your knowledge about the following topics? The different denominations of American Judaism
|
2021
|
|
| Very well |
5% |
| Quite Well |
17%
|
|
So-so |
34% |
| Not very well |
25% |
| Not at all |
18% |
How confident are you in your knowledge about the following topics? Antisemitism in the Diaspora
|
2021
|
|
| Very well |
13% |
| Quite Well |
36%
|
|
So-so |
34% |
| Not very well |
12% |
| Not at all |
6% |
If you had the opportunity to learn more about American Jews, to what degree would you be interested in doing so?
|
2021
|
|
| Very interested |
10% |
| Somewhat interested |
37%
|
|
So-so |
30% |
| Not that interested |
14% |
| Not interested at all |
8% |
When thinking about Diaspora Jewry, which of these statements most closely represents how you feel?
|
2021
|
|
| The Diaspora is less important to the Jewish people than Israel |
19% |
| The Diaspora and Israel are equally important to the Jewish people |
74%
|
|
The Diaspora is more important to the Jewish people than Israel |
6% |
| The Diaspora is not important at all |
1% |
How important is being Jewish in your life?
|
2018
|
2019
|
|
| Most Important |
47%
|
51%` |
| Very Important |
34%
|
29%
|
|
Somewhat Important |
9%
|
11% |
| Not That Important |
9%
|
5% |
| Not Important At All |
4%
|
3% |
| No Opinion |
2%
|
1%
|
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “Living in Israel is a very important part of my being a Jew.”
|
2018
|
2019
|
|
| Strongly Agree |
46%
|
50% |
| Somewhat Agree |
36%
|
32% |
|
Somewhat Disagree |
10%
|
11% |
| Strongly Disagree |
4%
|
5% |
No Opinion |
2%
|
2%
|
Do you consider being Jewish mostly a matter of religion, or more a matter of ethnicity and culture?
|
2018
|
2019
|
|
| Religion |
19%
|
24%
|
| Ethnicity and Culture |
40%
|
51% |
| Both Equally |
37%
|
23% |
| Don't Know/No Response |
4%
|
3% |
Looking ahead five years, do you think that the ties between American and Israeli Jews will be...?
|
2018
|
2019
|
|
| Stronger Than Today |
30%
|
30% |
| Weaker Than Today |
19%
|
23% |
| About The Same |
40%
|
38% |
| No Opinion |
11%
|
|
Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Trump is handling US-Israel Relations?
|
2018
|
2019
|
|
| Approve Strongly |
37%
|
48% |
| Approve Somewhat |
40%
|
31% |
| Disapprove Somewhat |
5%
|
6% |
| Disapprove Strongly |
5%
|
4% |
| Don't Know/No Response |
13%
|
3% |
Have you ever visited the United States?
|
(For those who have visited the United States) Would you say your visit/s to the United States...
|
Do you have family in the United States with whom you feel close?
|
2018
|
2019
|
|
| Yes |
46%
|
44% |
| No |
54%
|
56% |
Do you think that a thriving Diaspora is or isn’t vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?
|
2018
|
2019
|
2021
|
|
| Yes |
78%
|
74% |
75%
|
| So-So | 14% | ||
| No |
15%
|
20% |
6% |
No Opinion / Don't know |
7%
|
6%
|
5% |
*2021 Yes combines "Very vital" and "Somewhat vital"; No combines "Not very vital" and "Not vital at all."
(For those who responded “Vital” or “Somewhat Vital”) What is the most important reason that a thriving Diaspora is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?
|
2021
|
|
| Diaspora Jews advocate for Israel with their governments |
36% |
| Diaspora Jews support Israel with funding |
24%
|
|
Variety adds to the strength of the Jewish people |
27% |
| The Diaspora fosters Jewish creativity in a different way than Israeli life |
6% |
| They are very important to the Jewish people |
1%
|
| They are part of the Jewish people |
1%
|
(For those who responded “Not very vital” or “Not vital at all”) What is the most important reason that you don’t think a thriving Diaspora is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?
|
2021
|
|
| Diaspora Jewry is assimilating and won’t survive |
17% |
| Diaspora Jewry does not contribute as much to Jewish peoplehood as Israeli Jewry |
29%
|
|
Israel is the center of world Jewry and the Diaspora is of less and less relevance as time goes on |
34% |
| Other |
20% |
Do you think that a thriving State of Israel is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?
|
*2018 wording: Do you think that a thriving State of Israel is or isn’t vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?
Anti-Semitic incidents have become more frequent in Europe. Do you think that Jews have a future as Jews in Europe, or should they leave now?
|
Under its current administration, the U.S. has pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) signed in 2015 that loosened economic restrictions on Iran in return for limitations on the Iranian nuclear program. Do you favor or oppose the U.S. pullout from the Iranian nuclear agreement (JCPOA)?
|
2019
|
|
| Approve Strongly |
49% |
| Approve Somewhat |
20% |
| Disapprove Somewhat |
10% |
| Disapprove Strongly |
8% |
| Don't Know/No Response |
13% |
Russia is emerging as a key player in Middle East geopolitics. Do you believe that Russia is...
|
Relations between Israel and the Muslim/Arab world have become warmer in recent years. Within a decade from now, do you believe that diplomatic relations will be established between Israel and Saudi Arabia, with an exchange of embassies?
|
Do you think it appropriate for American Jews to attempt to influence Israeli policy on such issues as national security and peace negotiations with the Palestinians?
|
|
2018
|
2019
|
| Yes, it is Appropriate |
25%
|
31% |
| No, it is Not Appropriate |
68%
|
63% |
| Don't Know/No Response |
7%
|
6% |
In the current situation, do you favor or oppose a two-state solution through the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state on the West Bank?
|
2018
|
2019
|
|
| Favor Strongly |
15% |
17% |
| Favor Somewhat |
29% |
22% |
| Oppose Somewhat |
15% |
18% |
| Oppose Strongly |
33% |
33% |
| Don't Know/No Response |
8% |
9% |
As part of a peace agreement with the Palestinians, should Israel be willing to dismantle all, some, or none of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank?
|
2018
|
2019
|
|
| All |
4% |
6%
|
| Some |
35% |
37%
|
| None |
54% |
50%
|
| Don't Know/No Response |
7% |
7%
|
Looking ahead five years, do you think that the chances for peaceful coexistence between Israel and a Palestinian state will...?
|
2018
|
2019
|
|
| Improve |
13% |
14%
|
| Decline |
42% |
43%
|
| Stay The Same |
37% |
37%
|
| Don't Know/No Response |
7% |
7%
|
Do you support or oppose the recent American recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory?
|
2019
|
|
| Support |
88% |
| Oppose |
5% |
| Don't Know/No Response |
7% |
Do you identify as...?
|
2018
|
2019
|
|
| Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) |
10% |
10%
|
| Religious Zionist |
11\% |
12%
|
| Conservative (Masorti) |
0%
|
|
| Religious-traditional |
17% |
14%
|
| Not that religious-traditional |
21% |
18%
|
| Reform |
1%
|
|
| Reconstructionist |
0%
|
|
| Secular |
37% |
41%
|
| Other |
2% |
4%
|
| No Opinion |
|
1%
|
Israel today is both Jewish-religious and Democratic. In your opinion, should the current balance between Democratic and Jewish-religious elements be retained, or should one be strengthened at the expense of the other?
|
2018
|
|
| The current balance should be retained |
36% |
| The democratic element should be strengthened |
39% |
| The Jewish-religious element should be strengthened |
19% |
| No Opinion |
5%
|
Currently, Jewish weddings, divorces, and conversions to Judaism in Israel are recognized only if Orthodox rabbis officiate. Should Conservative and Reform rabbis also be permitted to officiate?
|
2018
|
|
| Yes |
49% |
| No |
45% |
| No Opinion |
6%
|
Currently, Israeli law does not allow for civil [secular] marriage and divorce. Should the law be changed, and civil marriage and divorce allowed?
|
2018
|
|
| Yes |
55% |
| No |
40% |
| No Opinion |
5%
|
Currently, prayer services at the Western Wall in Jerusalem are conducted according to Orthodox tradition, with men and women being separated. Do you support or oppose the existence of a square adjacent to the Western Wall that would serve for mixed prayers, without separation between men and women?
|
2018
|
|
| Support |
42% |
| Oppose |
48% |
| No Opinion |
10%
|
Do you support or oppose the recent U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and to relocate the U.S. embassy there?
|
2018
|
|
| Support |
85% |
| Oppose |
7% |
| No Opinion |
8%
|
Do you think the fact that Orthodox Judaism is the only denomination recognized by Israel as an official form of Judaism, and that Reform Judaism is not recognized:
|
2018
|
|
| Strengthens ties between Israeli and American Jews |
14% |
| Weakens ties between Israeli and American Jews |
40% |
| Has no effect on ties between Israeli and American Jews |
29% |
| No Opinion |
16%
|
Which of the following statements about non-Orthodox forms of Judaism, the Conservative and the Reform, is closest to your view?
|
2018
|
|
| Their simultaneous existence strengthens Jewish life in the Diaspora, but they are irrelevant to Israel |
30% |
| Their parallel growth in Israel could improve the quality of Jewish life there |
26% |
| Both forms of Judaism are destined to disappear |
17% |
| None of the above |
8%
|
| No Opinion |
20%
|
Source: AJC.
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