Over Half of Jewish New Yorkers Fear for Safety Post-Oct. 7 Attacks, Poll Finds
A recent survey reveals significant safety concerns and increased antisemitic incidents among Jewish residents in New York City.
More than half of Jewish voters in New York City fear for their safety, and 42% report experiencing verbal harassment, according to a new poll by The Honan Strategy Group. The findings come three years after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel and amidst a rise in antisemitism in the city.
The survey, named the Honan Strategy Group 5 Borough Barometer, polled 1,167 likely city voters from Oct. 2-6, with an oversample of 503 Jewish voters. The overall poll has a margin of error of 2.97 percentage points, while the Jewish voter oversample has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.36 percentage points.
According to the poll, 51% of Jewish voters believe Jewish New Yorkers are unsafe today, compared to 38% of non-Jewish voters. Furthermore, 55% of Jewish voters feel that the situation has worsened since Oct. 7.
"Half of Jews saying they feel unsafe is an alarming figure. The Jewish people are intertwined with the culture and history of New York City," said Honan CEO Bradley Honan.
Beyond general safety concerns, 42% of respondents reported being verbally harassed due to their Jewish identity. The poll also indicated that Jewish New Yorkers are altering their daily routines due to anti-Israel sentiment that has surged in response to Israel's military actions in Gaza.
A significant 59% of Jewish voters consider public protests unsafe for them, a figure double that of non-Jewish voters. Additionally, half of Jewish voters find it unsafe to wear religious symbols such as a kippah or Star of David.
Concerns extend to academic environments, with 40% of Jewish voters believing college campuses are unsafe for Jews. The poll also revealed that one in four Jewish individuals have hidden their Jewish identity online or at work, and 36% have stopped wearing Jewish symbols.
Nearly one in three Jewish voters reported witnessing or experiencing an antisemitic incident in the five boroughs within the past year, a rate nearly triple that of non-Jewish voters, who reported 12%.