UMAN, UKRAINE – SEPTEMBER 14: Hasidic pilgrims pray along a river, not far from the burial site of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov on September 14, 2015 in Uman, Ukraine. Every year, tens of thousands of Hasidim gather for Rosh Hashanah in the city to pray at the holy site. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) 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
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