While I do feel safe walking the streets in my Chicago
neighborhood of West Rogers Park - home to a large concentration of Orthodox
Jews - it is also home to a sizeable Muslim population, many likely of
Palestinian origin. We cross paths constantly. The anger many Palestinians may
feel toward Israel, and by association toward the Jewish people, concerns me
each time we pass each other on the street.
I often walk with these thoughts in mind, even as those
brief encounters usually pass without comment.
So how bad is it really? Should it worry me as much as it
does? Or even more? Or am I simply being paranoid? My own answer is that it’s
prudent to be aware of the possibility of danger - as long as it doesn’t
paralyze me or alter my daily routine. I continue living my life as I always
have, but with my eyes open.
That leads to a broader question: How prevalent is
antisemitism in America? What percentage of Americans harbor antisemitic views
to any degree? Does it come more from the left or the right? And how dangerous
is it for a Jew walking alone at night?
A recent poll by Mark Trencher (available in the print
edition of the Jewish Press) attempts to answer these questions. To me, the
results were unsurprising. Antisemitism exists on both sides of the political
aisle. Trencher cites data from a newly released poll by the conservative
Manhattan Institute finding that:
17% of Republican voters hold “anti-Jewish” views (defined as believing the Holocaust was exaggerated and/or that Israel is a “settler-colonial state”).
12% of Republicans explicitly describe themselves as having “hostility to, or prejudice against, Jewish people.”
Slightly higher levels - 20% - are found among Democratic voters, compared to the Republicans’ 17%.
I agree with Trencher that this 3% difference isn’t
particularly meaningful. There is more or less the same level of antisemitism
on both sides, though the reasons for it differ significantly between the left
and right.
A follow-up overnight mini-survey gives us an insight into
what Orthodox Jews are thinking. Some of the comments are exaggerated, but they do resonate to a
degree. The survey began with the following question?
Several recent surveys have found levels of antisemitism
and anti-Israel sentiment to be about the same among Democratic voters as
compared to Republican voters. What tis your reaction to this?
Among the reactions were these:
“Since October 7th there has been an almost total focus on left-wing antisemitism while ignoring the obvious, virulent, and dangerous antisemitism from the right. It’s a dangerous problem on both sides.”
“I don’t believe the Democratic Party actually exists anymore. It has been taken over by an antisemitic socialist movement with funding from who knows where.”
“Don’t underestimate the hate from the right; people are spouting vile anti-Jewish and anti-Israel views, and social media has created antisemitism on steroids.”
When asked which group of antisemites is more dangerous:
57% said both are equally dangerous.
29% said Democrats are more dangerous.
14% said Republicans are more dangerous.
Sample responses:
“Extreme Democrats reject Israel’s legitimacy and frame it as an aggressor; extreme Republicans think Israel has too much influence on U.S. politics. The former is ultimately more problematic.”
“Antisemitic beliefs are now central to the Democratic platform, whereas antisemitism among Republicans is mostly confined to the fringes.”
“The rise of Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes, and Candace Owens is pushing far-right Republicans to reconsider support for Israel.”
“I work in academia and see huge amounts of antisemitism from progressives. I’ve never experienced it firsthand from conservatives. Maybe a stray online comment here or there, but nothing compared to the constant stream of Jew-hatred in higher education.”
“It’s not the left or the right; both wings belong to the same screwed-up bird.”
These responses, while anecdotal, offer a snapshot of how
Orthodox Jews perceive antisemitism today. In my view these perceptions are
not that far from reality.
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