Solid base of support, but points of divergence in new survey of millennial Jews

(JNS) — An American Jewish Committee survey of U.S. and Israeli Jewish millennials shows that Israel-Diaspora relations remain strong but also indicates points of divergence regarding what role Diaspora Jews should have in influencing Israeli policies, anti-Semitism in the United States and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The first-ever parallel survey of Jews, ages 25 to 40, was conducted by YouGov in the United States and Geocartography in Israel for ACCESS, AJC’s young professional program and AJC’s Contemporary Jewish Life Department.

“Gauging the views of millennials is critical to ensuring strong, enduring ties between the world’s two largest Jewish communities,” said Dana Steiner, director of AJC ACCESS Global. “Our pioneering surveys provide vital insights into the thinking of emerging leaders engaged in Jewish life that will be critical to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between American and Israeli Jews, and also address challenges and opportunities.”

Significant majorities of American (72 percent) and Israeli (89 percent) Jewish millennials say it is important that the American Jewish community and Israel maintain close ties, with 48 percent of Americans and 46 percent of Israelis saying it is very important.

Some 80 percent of millennial Israelis and 70 percent of millennial American Jews think a strong State of Israel is necessary for the survival of the Jewish people, and 81 percent of Americans and 70 percent of Israelis think a strong Jewish community outside of Israel is necessary.

A majority, 59 percent, of American Jewish millennials feel a personal responsibility to help fellow Jews in Israel, with a quarter, 26 percent, saying they feel a great deal of responsibility. Among Israeli millennials, 9 percent feel a great deal of responsibility to help fellow Jews in the United States, 33 percent feel some responsibility, 30 percent feel not much and 18 percent feel none.

Looking at how each community perceives Israeli care for Jews in the United States, 18 percent of American Jews and 11 percent of Israelis think Israelis care about U.S. Jews very much; 22 percent of Americans and 46 percent of Israelis care quite a lot; and 35 percent of Americans and 30 percent of Israelis care somewhat. In contrast, 17 percent of Americans and 4 percent of Israelis think Israelis do not care at all about American Jews.

Regarding perceptions of how American Jews care about Israelis, 27 percent of Americans and 17 percent of Israelis think U.S. Jews care very much about Israel; 34 percent of Americans and 50 percent of Israelis think they care quite a lot; 29 percent of Americans and 21 percent of Israelis think American Jews care somewhat; and 5 percent of Americans and 3 percent of Israelis say they don’t care at all.

Some 55 percent of U.S. Jews say being connected to Israel is important to their Jewish identity, while 44 percent do not. In addition, 54 percent of American Jewish millennials feel emotionally attached to Israel; 26 percent say their emotional attachment to Israel has grown in recent years, and 25 percent say it has lessened and 48 percent say it has remained the same.

Impact of anti-Israel climate

While the AJC survey shows two communities sharing much in common, it also revealed are disturbing trends within the U.S. Jewish community’s younger cohort, including:

28 percent of American Jewish millennials say that the anti-Israel climate on campus or elsewhere has damaged their relationships with friends, while 44 percent say it has not.

26 percent say it is OK and 66 percent say it is not OK to distance themselves from Israel to better fit in among friends.

23 percent reported that the anti-Israel climate on campus or elsewhere has forced them to hide their Jewish identity; 46 percent say it has not, and 11 percent say there is no anti-Israel climate in the United States.

28 percent say the anti-Israel climate on campus and elsewhere has made them rethink their own commitment to Israel and 54 percent say it has not.

Israeli policy decisions

Some 55 percent of American Jews and 22 percent of Israelis say it is appropriate for American Jews to try to influence Israeli policy, while 36 percent of Americans and 69 percent of Israelis say it is not appropriate.

On which Israeli policies American Jews should try to influence,

50 percent of Americans and 50 percent of Israelis chose relations with the United States.

23 percent of Americans and 25 percent of Israelis chose religious policy.

23 percent of Americans and 26 percent of Israelis chose security.

20 percent of Americans and 17 percent of Israelis chose relations with the Palestinians.

16 percent of Americans and 14 percent of Israelis chose treatment of minorities and migrants.

10 percent of Americans and 28 percent of Israelis chose economic policy.

11 percent of Americans and 10 percent of Israelis environmental policy.

There also was divergence on the question of Israel considering the well-being of American Jews in making policy decisions. 22 percent of American Jews and 7 percent of Israelis said Israel very much should consider the well-being of American Jews, 24 percent of Americans and 26 percent of Israelis said quite a lot, 31 percent of Americans and 39 percent of Israelis said somewhat, and 13 percent of Americans and 20 percent of Israelis replied not at all.

Anti-Semitism in the United States

Some 53 percent of American Jews and 76 percent of Israelis say the recent wave of anti-Semitic events in the United States is the result of demonizing campaigns against Israel and Jews, while 18 percent of Americans and 6 percent of Israelis say it is a natural result of Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians. 20 percent of Americans and 9 percent of Israelis say it is neither.

Only 9 percent of Israelis think American Jews experience very little anti-Semitism in their daily lives, while 10 percent say they experience it very much, 28 percent quite a lot and 46 percent somewhat.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 52 percent of Americans and 24 percent of Israelis say a viable solution to the conflict is possible.

Among those who say a solution is possible:

52 percent of Israelis and 47 percent of American Jews favor two independent Israeli and Palestinian states living side by side.

23 percent of Americans and 5 percent of Israelis favor one binational state with a single government elected.

15 percent of Americans and 19 percent of Israelis favor Israeli annexation, leading to an extension of Israeli sovereignty in which Palestinians have a unique civil status and are represented by Palestinian municipal leaders.

5 percent of Americans and 6 percent of Israelis favor status quo management of the conflict.

The AJC survey of 1,001 Israeli Jews, ages 25-40, was conducted by Geocartography from Feb. 14 to Feb. 22. The AJC survey of 800 American Jews, ages 25-40, was conducted by YouGov between Feb. 9 and March 30.