A significant portion of Jewish voters in New York are feeling unsafe due to their religious identity, according to a new poll conducted by the pro-Israel New York Solidarity Network. The survey revealed that 44% of the 1,200 Jewish voters queried have felt at risk, with this number rising to 67% among Orthodox Jews.
Additionally, 35% of respondents agreed with the statement that “New York is no longer a safe haven for Jewish life and the Jewish people.” Nearly 40% of those surveyed also believe that the United States is no longer a safe haven for Jews.
The poll results are concerning given that New York is home to 1.5 million Jews, more than any other place outside of Israel. “That more than a third of registered New York Jewish voters believe New York is no longer a safe haven for Jews should be a five-alarm fire for state and local elected officials,” stated Sara Forman, executive director of the New York Solidarity Network.
The rise in antisemitic incidents in New York follows the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing conflict in Gaza. This surge in hate crimes has been particularly felt on college campuses, where Jewish students have been subjected to increased anti-Israel protests and antisemitic acts. Incidents at Cooper Union and Columbia University highlight the growing hostility faced by Jewish students.
For instance, the Brooklyn Museum’s director and several Jewish board members were targeted by vandals who threw red paint and scrawled antisemitic messages on their homes. Additionally, an anti-Jewish harasser from Staten Island was arrested after demanding “Zionists” raise their hands on a subway car.
Half of the survey respondents expressed doubt that New York’s colleges will make Jewish students feel safe in the upcoming fall semester, while 42% believed they would. Moreover, 86% of those surveyed consider antisemitism a serious problem, and 56% have witnessed anti-Jewish hatred on social media, a figure that climbs to 72% among respondents under 30.
NYPD data obtained by The Post in April indicates a 45% increase in antisemitic hate crimes in 2024, with many incidents caught on video. One notable case involved a Jewish father of five in Brooklyn being beaten in front of his home during Hanukkah, just two days before another man was robbed of his $2,500 traditional Jewish headpiece.
The rise in antisemitic attacks has sparked calls for stronger measures to protect Jewish communities. Forman highlighted the urgency, stating, “If we do not feel safe here, with the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, how can we feel safe anywhere?”
