Survey reveals European Jews’ fear of anti-Semitism, yet strong desire to stay

A new survey commissioned by a global Jewish aid organization reveals that despite a surge in anti-Semitism and widespread fear across Europe, Jewish leaders are committed to remaining in their communities.

The increase in anti-Semitic incidents, exacerbated by the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing war with Hamas in Gaza, has led some Jewish voices to call for mass emigration.

Menachem Margolin of the European Jewish Association previously condemned Israeli leaders for suggesting that European Jews should leave. He warned in June that persistent anti-Semitism could force many to emigrate. Nevertheless, according to the survey by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), most Jewish leaders and professionals from 32 countries are resolute in their decision to stay.

In the latest survey of nearly 900 Jewish professionals, conducted six months post-October 7, results indicate that Jewish leaders' attitudes toward emigration have remained stable. This survey, the sixth in a series by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) since 2008, reveals that the proportion of leaders considering emigration due to safety concerns remains at 24%, consistent with figures from 2021. The forecasted rate of Jewish emigration from their countries also remains unchanged, at just under 50%, highlighting no significant shift in sentiment over the past three years.

* Arutz 7 contributed to this report