Survey shows slight rise in American anti-Semitism

NEW YORK (JTA) – Anti-Semitism in the United States has increased slightly since 2009, according to an Anti-Defamation League survey.

Results of the 2011 Survey of American Attitudes Towards Jews in America released Thursday showed that 15 percent of Americans hold anti-Semitic views, an increase of 3 percent since 2009 but matching levels in 2007 and 2005.

The survey also found a 5 percent increase, to 19 percent, of Americans who believe that “Jews have too much control/influence on Wall Street.” Other anti-Semitic views remained constant, with 31 percent believing that Jews were responsible for Jesus’ death and 30 percent that Jews were more loyal to Israel then America.

"The sterotypes about Jews and money endure, and the fact that more Americans are now accepting these statements about Jews as true suggests that the downturn in the economy, along with the changing demographics of our society, may have contributed to the rise in anti-Semitic sentiments," ADL National Director Abraham Foxman said in a statement. "Once again, the old anti-Semitic stand-bys about Jewish loyalty, the death of Jesus and Jewish power remain strong."

The poll of 1,754 adults also found a stark correlation between anti-Semitic views and education levels, with 9 percent of college graduates holding some negative feelings toward Jews versus 13 percent of those who completed some college and 22 percent who graduated or completed some high school.

The survey was conducted Oct. 13-23 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent.