A poll released by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) April 21 found almost half of American Jews are scared to wear a kippah or any other form religious garb in public.
The poll, taken Jan. 17-30, found 47% of American Jews said they were either somewhat worried or very worried that donning such garments would cause them to be physically assaulted; 50% said they were somewhat or very worried they would be verbally assaulted in public for wearing religious garb.
Additionally, 56% expressed concern their synagogue would be vandalized, and 55% worried a violent attack would occur at their synagogue.
Fifty-four percent of respondents said they had experienced or witnessed an anti-Semitic incident over the last five years; 49% said they witnessed an incident; and 22% said they had been the target of an anti-Semitic incident. Overall, 63% of American Jews think they are less safe today than they were 10 years ago.
“We’ve seen #antisemitic conspiracy theories being peddled in the midst of #COVID19,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted. “@ADL’s new survey of Jewish Americans’ Experience with #Antisemitism shows Jews were feeling less safe even before the #coronavirus outbreak.”
We’ve seen #antisemitic conspiracy theories being peddled in the midst of #COVID19. @ADL’s new survey of Jewish Americans' Experience with #Antisemitism shows Jews were feeling less safe even before the #coronavirus outbreak. Details here: https://t.co/9G3vU9ia5A pic.twitter.com/DgyY1Tt3i7
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) April 21, 2020
