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Lilly Freemyer
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NEW YORK, NY – In the wake of rising antisemitism in the United States and around the world, two-thirds of Jewish women surveyed by Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, reported being impacted by antisemitism in their everyday lives, relationships and work. Hadassah’s new report, “From Fear to Resilience: Women Facing Antisemitism,” released today, documents stories of Jewish women, who report feeling isolated, afraid, and threatened in their communities and workplaces.
Over 1,000 people responded to Hadassah’s survey. Replies from over 800 Jewish women from across the US show that:
- 64% of Jewish women surveyed said antisemitism has impacted their work, lives or relationships.
- 62% of Jewish women surveyed reported feeling physically or psychologically unsafe.
- 52% of Jewish women surveyed reported hiding being Jewish.
- 33% of Jewish women surveyed experienced hate speech because of their Jewish or Zionist identity.
- 22% of Jewish women surveyed were excluded from groups or events because of their Jewish or Zionist identity.
“Antisemitism rose by 140% last year, so Hadassah asked, ‘What does that really mean?’ Now we know the heartbreaking truth,” said Hadassah National President Carol Ann Schwartz. “It means that here, in America, in 2024, nearly two-thirds of Jewish women we surveyed feel unsafe because being Jewish makes them a target and nearly half have taken steps to hide who they are. Every day, Jewish women are suffering in silence, isolation, and fear as they live in the shadows of hate.”
“This is a call to action for us all,” Schwartz continued. “We must urgently strengthen policies against rising antisemitism and empower our communities to rise up, together, and confront hatred in every form.”
Isolated and Excluded
Stories shared by Jewish women throughout the report tell of their being isolated and excluded by friends, family and colleagues. Some women reported being targeted and singled out at work, losing jobs and losing customers at their businesses. Others reported being abandoned by one-time friends and being excluded from social groups and activities.
“I’ve certainly lost people in my social circle for being openly Jewish,” wrote one woman.
“I have been wanting to drop out of college due to the antisemitism I have faced. Fellow students are glorifying suicide,” reported a survey respondent.
“Our community had anti-Zionist protests and at least one business banned Zionists from entering,” reported another woman.
“I have seen the DEI department at my job refuse to highlight Jewish American Heritage Month in May while they give full support to every other minority group,” said another Jewish woman.
Afraid and Anxious
The Jewish women responding to the survey also reported feeling afraid, anxious, worried and sad. They related being fearful of attending religious services and apprehensive that they or their families could be attacked.
“I live in fear of verbal and physical abuse due to being Jewish,” wrote one woman.
“When I go to shul I don’t sit by the door. I sit away from it and have a plan of escape,” wrote another respondent.
“I don’t feel safe. My friends think I’m imagining not feeling safe and think there is something wrong with me,” wrote another woman.
Threatened and Harassed
Survey respondents reported feeling threatened, targeted and harassed. One-third of respondents reported having experienced hate speech because of their Jewish and/or Zionist identities. Women reported being physically attacked, verbally assaulted and threatened with violence, including rape.
These threats are happening every day in ordinary places like schools, hospital waiting rooms, elevators, airplanes, stores and online spaces, with very little accountability.
“I was physically attacked at a rally and my Israeli flag was stolen and burnt in front of me,” said one respondent.
“Earlier this year, our house was egged on both the front and the side because we had a small flag in the front that said, ‘We Support Israel,’” said another respondent.
“Both of my kids faced antisemitism at school. One had pennies thrown at him and was told to go back to the ovens,” said another respondent.
Hiding Being Jewish
More than half of the Jewish women responding to Hadassah’s survey reported hiding their Jewish identity out of fear. Some reported concealing their Jewish background at work, hiding symbols of their faith and refraining from decorating their houses for Jewish holidays.
“I no longer feel safe wearing a Jewish star necklace, especially in downtown Chicago. I feel like a target,” replied one respondent.
“No one I work with on campus knows I’m Jewish,” said another respondent.
Resilient
At the same time, some respondents reported that they are determined and resolved to stand up to hate and fight back.
“My initial reaction was to be afraid and hide, but I thought about my relatives who were killed in the Holocaust and it empowered me to become a fighter instead,” reported one woman, who continued, “I’m still afraid, but I proudly wear my [Jewish] star, have Israeli and American flags in front of my house and have a blue porch light on at night to show my support of Israel.”
Hadassah, the largest women’s Zionist and largest Jewish women’s organization in the US, is sharing this report to build awareness about how antisemitism is impacting women’s everyday lives. Hadassah actively works to fight antisemitism and to empower supporters to embrace their Jewish and Zionist identities.
Read the full report here.