More than half of American Jews who are connected with the Jewish community say antisemitism has forced them to change their behavioral patterns.By World Israel News StaffMore than half of American Jews say they have changed their behavior because of rising antisemitism, according to the May 2026 “Voice of the Jewish People” index published by the Jewish People Policy Institute.The survey, conducted among Jews with a significant connection to the Jewish community and Israel, found that many respondents no longer view antisemitism as a temporary or isolated threat, but as a normalized reality affecting their daily lives.Among US Jewish respondents, 54% said they had changed their behavior because of the increase in antisemitic incidents in recent years, particularly since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.The reported changes included downplaying visible Jewish symbols, being more alert in public spaces, avoiding public displays of Jewish identity and sharing warnings and information within Jewish communities.The trend crossed denominational lines. Among Orthodox Jews, 65% said antisemitism had changed their behavior. The figure was 61% among Conservative Jews and 51% among Reform Jews, the largest Jewish denomination in the United States.The survey also found broad concern that antisemitism is becoming normalized in Western countries and is not being addressed seriously enough by authorities.In Canada, 91% of local respondents agreed that antisemitism is being normalized and not properly addressed in their country.In Britain, 82% of Jewish respondents said the same about the UK. Among US respondents, 74% said antisemitism is being normalized and not taken seriously enough in the United States.Respondents in the US, Canada and Britain also expressed concern about antisemitism in other Western countries, including Australia, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.The survey also asked US respondents about legal action in Belgium against mohels following a law requiring circumcision to be performed only by certified physicians.Half of US respondents said the Belgian law itself was antisemitic.Another 25% said that even if the law appeared legally reasonable, the circumstances in Belgium made the move antisemitic in character.In all, 75% saw the case as a direct or indirect infringement on the Jewish community and its religious freedom.JPPI said the findings reflected heightened sensitivity to perceived attacks on Jewish customs and traditions at a time of growing concern over antisemitism.The index also examined cultural ties between American Jews and Israel. Seventy percent of US respondents said they had read a book about Israel in the past year. Twenty-one percent said they were currently reading such a book, and another 20% said they had read one in the past month.Eighty percent said they had read a book in the past year about Judaism, Torah or other Jewish topics.Visual media consumption was also high. Seventy-five percent of respondents said they had watched films, television series or documentaries about Israel during the past year, while 40% said they had watched such content in the past month or were currently watching it.Seventy-six percent said they had watched films, series or other visual content about Judaism, Torah or other Jewish subjects in the past year.JPPI said the data showed that despite fear and concern over antisemitism, connected Diaspora Jews were not distancing themselves from Jewish identity. Instead, many were continuing to seek ways to deepen their connection to Jewish life, with Israel remaining a major focus of interest for American Jews.Prof. Yedidia Stern, president of JPPI, said the findings showed that antisemitism is increasingly affecting ordinary Jewish life.“The findings of the index show that many Jews feel antisemitism is no longer a marginal or exceptional phenomenon, but a reality that affects their daily conduct,” Stern said.“In light of this, we consistently see in all of our recent surveys a strengthening of the connection to Israel, in terms of a sense of shared fate and deep belonging,” he added. “We must continue to act to strengthen the bond between Israel and Diaspora Jewry, and remember that decisions made in Israel also affect world Jewry, and this must be taken into account.”The index was based on a survey of 989 Jews registered in JPPI’s “Voice of the Jewish People” panel. JPPI said the survey tends to reflect the views of “connected” Jews with a strong attachment to the Jewish community. The survey also included 65 participants from Britain and 131 from Canada.The post Antisemitism forcing American Jews to change their behavior, study shows appeared first on World Israel News.