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The following is the full statement of Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) President of U.S. Affairs Alyza D. Lewin on the new survey released by CAM on Thursday on Jewish American experiences with antisemitism.
The findings of the study are accessible at: survey2026.combatantisemitism.org
“These findings are a stark reminder that antisemitism is a lived daily reality for Jewish Americans. The more openly Jewish you are, the more likely you are to experience antisemitism. Unsurprisingly, as a result, Jews are changing their behavior and thinking twice about how openly Jewish to be.”
“At the same time, the survey responses demonstrate that Jews overwhelmingly support adoption of the IHRA definition. A true cross-section of American Jewry participated. While 41.2% of respondents identified as ‘Just Jewish,’ and 48% said they don’t attend synagogue, 75% of respondents reported — after reading through the full IHRA definition (which the survey required them to do) — that the definition accurately describes antisemitism. 71% of respondents said they support governments, universities and institutions adopting and using the IHRA definition and more than half of respondents said they would be willing to support adoption of IHRA by attending public hearings, contacting local officials and signing petitions. In addition, 78% of respondents agreed that Israel is the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people, and the same percentage — 78% of respondents agreed that Judaism is about more than religious belief and practice.
Taken together, these survey results demonstrate the following. First, it is clear that for Jews, ‘Jewishness’ encompasses more than faith. Being Jewish is also about peoplehood and the Jewish people’s shared history and heritage rooted in the Land of Israel. Today, those who refuse to disavow this part of their Jewishness are being targeted. If we want to effectively address antisemitism, we must address this form of antisemitism which targets Jews on the basis of their shared ancestry and ethnicity connected to Israel. Second, most Jews support the IHRA definition because the IHRA definition accurately describes contemporary antisemitism. Throughout history, Jews have been scapegoated, blamed for society’s failures, accused of conspiring to harm humanity, and demonized as uniquely powerful or singularly evil. Today, there are those who spread those hateful, baseless conspiracy theories but instead of using the word ‘Jews’ they substitute in the word ‘Israel’ or the word ‘Zionist’ as the collective Jew. That, according to the IHRA definition, is antisemitic. Too many people today are unable to recognize antisemitism that targets Jews on the basis of the Jewish people’s connection to Israel. That is why adopting the IHRA definition is crucial — because there is no better tool to help society understand this scourge.”
“The data is clear. The mandate is clear. It’s time to adopt the IHRA definition and get to work protecting the ability of Jews in America to openly, proudly and safely embrace their Jewish shared ancestry, history, and heritage.”
