Yahm Levin, a 39-year-old Jewish Democrat living in Los Angeles, has found herself hesitant to use her full name in political contexts due to rising antisemitism and criticism of Israel among her peers in the Democratic Party. Levin, who refers to herself by her middle name "Shelly," expresses feelings of isolation and frustration about being unable to openly discuss her Jewish identity and connection to Israel. Nearly three years following the escalation of the war in Gaza, Levin describes feeling politically homeless as the criticism of Israel within the Democratic Party intensifies.
A recent poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research highlights that a significant majority of Jewish adults in the U.S.—63%—consider prejudice against Jewish individuals to be a serious problem. At the same time, very few believe that either the Democratic or Republican parties are effectively supporting the Jewish community. The survey, which included responses from 1,022 Jewish adults, illustrates the growing concerns and feelings of disenfranchisement within the Jewish community as antisemitism gains traction across the political landscape.
The poll also reveals a critical divide in perspectives regarding Israel. Approximately 36% of Jewish respondents indicate that support for Israel is central to their Jewish identity. However, only 15% believe that the Democratic Party supports Jewish Americans well, with another 41% feeling that the party does not support the Jewish community effectively. In contrast, perceptions of support from the Republican Party, under Donald Trump, are similarly negative among Jewish adults, with about half expressing discontent with the party’s treatment of Jewish issues.
Further compounding these feelings of political estrangement is the disparity between the Jewish community and the wider public regarding the seriousness of antisemitism. While 77% of Jewish adults feel that antisemitism has increased over the last three years, only 38% of the general U.S. population shares this sentiment. This sense of isolation permeates both sides of the political spectrum, affecting Jewish Democrats like Levin and Republican Jews such as Max Sacher, who feels lost in modern politics despite previously aligning himself with Republican values.
As the political climate grows more divisive, Jewish Americans are equally split on prominent political figures related to their identity and interests. Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York, a democratic socialist critical of Israel, garners more positive views among Jewish adults compared to both Netanyahu and Trump. About 44% of Jewish respondents expressed a favorable opinion of Mamdani compared to only 30% for Trump and one-third for Netanyahu.
In discussions about U.S. support for Israel, many Jewish adults express skepticism toward unconditional government backing. About 40% believe the U.S. is "too supportive" of Israel, while 30% think the U.S. should provide more support for Palestinians. Nearly 60% of Jewish adults consider Israel’s role in their identity as significant, which underscores how closely tied their political beliefs are to their Jewish heritage. This relationship, however, is complex and raises concerns about how different factions within American political life treat Jewish interests.
Levin illustrates the rising tension and hostility within her liberal environment by recalling a recent incident where she encountered a graffiti reading "Death to Zionists" in Los Angeles. This reflects a broader trend of increasing antisemitism and highlights the everyday challenges Jewish Americans face in expressing their identities in increasingly polarized political spaces. Levin finds herself in a challenging position, where she grapples with the notion of supporting Democrats while feeling alienated from the party's current trajectory. She describes her strategy of navigating this polarized landscape with resignation, often shaking her head in disbelief, trying to find her place within a world where her political and cultural identity feels under siege.
