Most Connected American Jews Say Israel Is Safest Place for Jews, JPPI Finds

Two-thirds of American Jews with a strong connection to Judaism or Israel believe Israel is the safest place in the world for Jews, according to a survey published this week by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI).

The finding reflects an increase from last year and comes due to continued concern over antisemitism and the security environment facing Jewish communities outside Israel. JPPI said respondents most often cited growing antisemitism and recent war-related developments as reasons for their views.

The survey was conducted between January 15 and 20 and included 710 American Jews drawn from JPPI’s database. The institute emphasized that the group does not constitute a representative sample of the entire U.S. Jewish population. Rather, it consists predominantly of individuals with relatively strong connections to Jewish identity, Jewish institutions, and/or Israel.

According to the findings, 68% of respondents agreed that Israel is the safest place for Jews to live, an increase of roughly five percentage points compared to last year’s results. 

Perceptions varied significantly by religious affiliation. Agreement was highest among Orthodox respondents, 91% of whom said Israel is the safest place for Jews. Among Charedi respondents, 78% shared that view, followed by 74% of Conservative respondents. Agreement was lower among Reform respondents, at 62%, and among respondents without a denominational affiliation, at 64%.

Despite the broad perception of Israel as a safe haven, relatively few respondents said they are currently considering immigrating to Israel. Only about 8% reported that they are actively weighing a move at present time.

A larger share said they might consider immigration under certain conditions. Twelve percent said they would consider moving to Israel at some point in the future, while 35% said they would do so under specific circumstances. An additional 27% said they would consider immigration only in extreme circumstances. About 13% of respondents said they would not consider moving to Israel under any conditions. Antisemitism emerged as the leading factor driving interest in immigration, as forty percent of respondents cited it as the primary reason they would consider moving to Israel. 

The survey also found that personal connections to Israel are widespread among the respondents. Most said they personally know Jews who have moved to Israel, and more than 70% reported that they believe those acquaintances are satisfied with their decision to immigrate.

JPPI framed the findings as highlighting a persistent gap between perception and action among connected American Jews. They noted that Israel is widely viewed as a place of safety, yet for most respondents, that perception has not translated into immediate plans to move. The institute also noted that attitudes toward Israel and immigration remain shaped by a combination of security concerns, personal circumstances, and broader social trends affecting Jewish life outside the country.