Amid escalating antisemitism, 39% of Ultra-Orthodox Jews in the United States are considering aliyah to Israel, as revealed by a survey conducted by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) and the World Zionist Organization (WZO).
The survey, published on Thursday, also showed that the general orthodox Jewish community shared similar sentiments, with 35% contemplating aliyah. In addition 26% are considering joining a defense league, and 31% are exercising more caution in displaying Jewish symbols.
Among Conservative Jews, 16% are considering aliyah, while 21% were open to joining a defense league, and 27% were more careful about publicly displaying Jewish symbols.
In the Reform Jewish sector, 11% are considering aliyah, 26% are willing to join a defense league, and an even larger 41% are exercising increased caution about wearing Jewish symbols, reflecting an acute awareness of their surroundings.
Among Jews with no specific stream affiliation, 22% are contemplating aliyah and 23% are willing to join a defense league. A noticeable 31% of this group were more mindful of their public display of Jewish identity.
Threats felt by American Jewish communities
Another key finding is the decrease in the sense of personal threat among US Jews, despite initial heightened fears. However, the concern for safety has prompted notable changes in behavior, with a third of respondents being more cautious about wearing Jewish symbols, indicating a pervasive sense of vulnerability.
The survey further revealed that political orientation greatly influences views on Israel’s actions in Gaza. A substantial number of very liberal Jews perceive Israel as too aggressive, while conservative Jews tend to believe Israel’s response is not aggressive enough.
Involving 585 US Jews, the survey revealed a nuanced and multifaceted picture of a community deeply connected to and impacted by the events in Israel.