The document presents findings from a survey conducted among U.S. Jews regarding their demographics, beliefs, and experiences, emphasizing elements of stability, change, and uncertainty within the Jewish community. Key insights include high intermarriage rates, perceptions of increasing anti-Semitism, and variations in religious identification and political affiliation among younger versus older Jews. The research is part of the Pew Research Center's commitment to providing nonpartisan, data-driven analysis to inform public dialogue.

1. May 11, 2021

2. May 11, 2021
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3. Elements of stability
May 11, 2021
Population
size
Branch
identification
Intermarriage
rate

4. Elements of change
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Anti-
Semitism
Religious
divergence
Political
polarization
Racial and
ethnic
diversity

5. Elements of uncertainty
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Differences
in survey
methods
Political
change
Coronavirus

6. About the survey
Conducted online and by mail — address-based sampling
4,718 U.S. adults who identify as Jewish (3,836 Jews by religion; 882 Jews of
no religion)
Field period: Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020
Mostly before coronavirus pandemic (86% of screening surveys and 74% of
extended surveys completed before March 15)
Mode experiment to examine the methodological differences between the 2013
and 2020 surveys
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7. SOME MEASURES ARE FAIRLY STABLE
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8. Population size
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
% of U.S. adults who are
Jewish
% of Jewish adults who
say they are...
% of married Jews who say
their spouse is not Jewish
Branch identification Intermarriage rates
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9. Four-in-ten married Jews have a non-Jewish spouse
Note: Those who did not specify the religion or Jewish identity of their spouse are included in the ‘Spouse is not Jewish category.”
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
Among respondents
who got married in …
May 11, 2021

10. Intermarriage more common among Jews married more recently
Note: Based on current, intact marriages. Does not include past marriage that ended in either divorce or the death of a spouse.
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
% of married U.S. Jews with a
non-Jewish spouse, by year of
marriage
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11. Most Jews say remembering the Holocaust, leading an ethical/moral
life are essential to being Jewish
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
% of U.S. Jews who say _____ is an essential part of what being Jewish means to them
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12. U.S. Jews more likely to say being Jewish is about culture or ancestry
than about religion
Note: “Other” and “no answer” are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
% of U.S. Jews who say being Jewish is mainly
about …
May 11, 2021

13. Jews less likely than Americans overall to attend religious services
weekly, believe in God of the Bible
Note: Jewish adults include both Jews by religion and Jews of no religion
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults, and Jan. 21-Feb. 3, 2020 (belief in God), and Aug. 3-16, 2020 (importance of religion and attendance), among U.S. adults
overall.
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14. One-in-five U.S. Jews say their religious faith is
highly meaningful, fulfilling
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
% of U.S. Jews who say ___ provides them with a great deal of meaning and fulfillment
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15. SIGNS OF CHANGE
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16. Most Jews say there is more anti-Semitism than five years ago
Note: Respondents who did not answer the question about safety are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
% of U.S. Jews who say there is ___ in the United States today compared with five years ago
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17. Among U.S. Jews who feel less safe, 5% say they
have not participated in Jewish events over safety
concerns
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
Have you hesitated to participate in Jewish observances or events because you feel less
safe than you did five years ago?
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18. Orthodox Jews more likely to see anti-Jewish graffiti, be made to feel
unwelcome or called offensive names
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
% of U.S. Jews who say they have experienced each of following in the past 12 months
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19. One-third of U.S. Jews report recently hearing
an anti-Semitic trope in their presence
Note: Have not heard someone say this and no answer responses are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
% of U.S. Jews who say they have heard someone say ___ in the past 12 months
May 11, 2021

20. Compared with older Jews, youngest Jewish adults include larger shares of
both Orthodox and people with no denominational identity
Note: Those who did not answer are not shown. Figures include both Jews by religion and Jews of no religion.
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
May 11, 2021

21. Compared with older Jews, youngest Jewish adults include larger shares of
both Orthodox and people with no denominational identity
Note: Those who did not answer are not shown. Figures include both Jews by religion and Jews of no religion.
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
May 11, 2021

22. Compared with older Jews, youngest Jewish adults include larger shares of
both Orthodox and people with no denominational identity
Note: Those who did not answer are not shown. Figures include both Jews by religion and Jews of no religion.
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
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23. Younger Jews are more likely to be Jews of no religion than
older Jews
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Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.

24. Younger Jews are more likely to be Jews of no religion than
older Jews
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Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.

25. Jewish connectedness
Say being Jewish is very important to them 55% 7%
Have been to Israel more than once 33 7
(including those who lived in Israel)
Feel a great deal of belonging to the Jewish people 61 13
Feel a great deal of responsibility to help Jews 35 11
in need around the world
Someone in household is a member of a synagogue 46 5
Donated to a Jewish charity or cause in past year 61
11
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Jews
by
religion
Jews of
no religion
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.

26. Most U.S. Jews who attend synagogue regularly
say they find it spiritually meaningful to go
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
May 11, 2021

27. Most U.S. Jews at least sometimes eat Jewish foods,
share Jewish culture with non-Jews
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
% of U.S. Jews who say they …
May 11, 2021

28. Jews of no religion participate in cultural Jewish
activities at lower rates than Jews by religion
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
% of U.S. Jews who say they … often or sometimes
May 11, 2021

29. Younger Jews participate in cultural activities at
roughly similar rates to older Jews
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
% of U.S. Jews who say they … often or sometimes
May 11, 2021

30. Most U.S. Jews identify as Democrats,
but most Orthodox are Republicans
Note: Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding.
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
May 11, 2021

31. Half of all U.S. Jews describe themselves as liberal,
but 60% of Orthodox call themselves conservative
Note: Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding.
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
% of U.S. Jews who describe their political views as …
May 11, 2021

32. Younger Jewish adults are more racially and ethnically diverse
than older Jews
Note: Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. Percentages recalculated to exclude nonresponse. All columns, with the exception of the Hispanic column, include only those who identify with
each race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics can be of any race or multiple races. For example, someone who identifies as White and Hispanic is considered Hispanic (and not White or multiracial) in
this analysis. “Multiracial” includes those who identify with multiple races (aside from Hispanic), such as White and Black or White and Asian.
Source: Survey conducted Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020, among U.S. adults.
% of U.S. Jews who say they are …
May 11, 2021

33. Jewish Americans in 2020
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Population
size
Branch
identification
Intermarriage
rate
Anti-
Semitism
Religious
divergence
Political
polarization
Racial and
ethnic
diversity
Differences
in survey
methods
Political
change
Coronavirus
Change
Stability Uncertainty

34. May 11, 2021
www.pewresearch.org
Becka A. Alper
Senior Researcher
Alan Cooperman
Director of Religion Research
info@pewresearch.org