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Attitudes of American Jews: AJC Poll 2018

How important is being Jewish in your life?

Very Important

40%

Somewhat Important

37%

Not That Important

17%

Not Important At All

6%

Don't Know/No Response

1%

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

Strongly Agree

41%

Somewhat Agree

29%

Somewhat Disagree

19%

Strongly Disagree

9%


Don't Know/No Response
 
2%

Do you consider being Jewish mostly a matter of religion, or more a matter of ethnicity and culture?

Religion

24%

Ethnicity and Culture

56%

Both Equally

17%

Don't Know/No Response

2%

Looking ahead five years, do you think that the ties between American and Israeli Jews will be...?

Stronger Than Today

20%

Weaker Than Today

15%

About The Same

60%


Don't Know/No Response
 
5%

Using the metaphor of a family, do you consider Israeli Jews as your...?

Siblings

12%

First Cousins

15%

Extended Family

39%


Not Part of my Family
 
31%

Don't Know/No Response
 
2%

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

Approve Strongly

21%

Approve Somewhat

13%

Disapprove Somewhat

16%

Disapprove Strongly

41%

Don't Know/No Response

8%

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?

Yes, it is Appropriate

53%

No, it is Not Appropriate

43%

Don't Know/No Response

4%

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?

Favor Strongly

31%

Favor Somewhat

28%

Oppose Somewhat

12%

Oppose Strongly

18%

Don't Know/No Response

10%

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?

All

15%

Some

44%

None

35%

Don't Know/No Response

6%

Looking ahead five years, do you think that the chances for peaceful coexistence between Israel and a Palestinian state will...?​​​​​​​

Improve

18%

Decline

22%

Stay The Same

56%

Don't Know/No Response

3%

In your opinion, can the State of Israel be both a Jewish state and a democracy, and if not, which should it be?​​​​​​​

It Can be Both

68%

It Should Just be a Jewish State

7%

It Should Just be a Democracy

20%

Don't Know/No Response

4%

Do you think the fact that Orthodox Judaism is the only denomination recognized by Israel as an official form of Judaism...?​​​​​​​

Strengthens Ties Between U.S. and Israeli Jews

7%

Weakens Ties Between U.S. and Israeli Jews

53%

Has no Effect

35%

Don't Know/No Response

4%

Currently, Jewish weddings, divorces, and conversions to Judaism in Israel are recognized only if Orthodox rabbis officiate. Should non-Orthodox rabbis also be permitted to officiate?​​​​​​​

Yes

80%

No

17%

Don't Know/No Response

3%

Currently, Israeli law does not allow for civil [secular] marriage and divorce. Should the law be changed, and civil marriage and divorce allowed?​​​​​​​

Yes

81%

No

13%

Don't Know/No Response

5%

Currently, prayer services at the Western Wall in Jerusalem—a site holy to Jews—are conducted according to Orthodox tradition, with men and women separated by a barrier. Do you support or oppose a mixed-gender prayer area adjacent to the Western Wall administered on an equal basis with the services at the Wall itself?​​​​​​​

Support

73%

Oppose

21%

Don't Know/No Response

6%

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?​​​​​​​

Support

46%

Oppose

47%

Don't Know/No Response

6%

Do you identify as...?

Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox)

6%

Modern Orthodox

5%

Conservative

14%

Reform

29%


Reconstructionist
 
3%

Secular
 
16%

Other
 
25%

Do you have family in Israel with whom you feel close?

Yes

25%

No

74%

Do you think that a thriving Diaspora is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?

Yes

69%

No

17%


Don't Know/No Response
 
14%

Do you think that a thriving State of Israel is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?​​​​​​​

Yes

79%

No

17%

Don't Know/No Response

3%

Where would you place yourself on this scale?​​​​​​​

Liberal

37%

Lean Liberal

14%

Moderate

25%

Lean Conservative

6%

Conservative

16%

In U.S. politics today, do you consider yourself a...?

Republican

16%

Democrat

51%

Independent

24%

Don't Know/No Response

9%

Who did you vote for for President in 2016?

Hillary Clinton

60%

Donald Trump

19%

Another Candidate

6%

Didn't Vote

11%

Is your opinion of the job President Trump is doing favorable or unfavorable?​​​​​​​

Favorable

26%

Unfavorable

71%


Don't Know/No Response
 
3%

From the standpoint of national security, compared to a year ago, is the United States more secure or less secure?​​​​​​​

More

27%

Less

58%

The Same

13%


Don't Know/No Response
 
2%

Compared to a year ago, is the status of Jews in the United States more secure or less secure?​​​​​​​

More

18%

Less

55%

The Same

24%

Don't Know/No Response

3%

Compared to a year ago, is the climate on college campuses less hostile or more hostile toward pro-Israel students?​​​​​​​

Less 

10%

More

53%

The Same

14%

Don't Know/No Response

22%

In your opinion, do Jews in Europe have a future, or should they leave now?​​​​​​​

Jews Have a Future in Europe

75%

Jews in Europe Should Leave Now

17%

Don't Know/No Response

8%

Does the involvement of the United States in global affairs make our country more safe or less safe?​​​​​​​

More

64%

Less

29%

Don't Know/No Response

8%

In your opinion, which foreign nation poses the single greatest danger to the United States?

China

10%

Iran

18%

North Korea

17%

Russia

44%


Another Country
 
7%

Don't Know/No Response
 
4%

 


Source: American Jewish Committee, 2018 AJC Survey of American Jewish Opinion, AJC. Conducted April 18 - May 10, 2018.