Young Jews more optimistic and engaged despite rising global antisemitism: survey
A new global survey of Jewish communities suggests a striking generational divide and highlights how rising antisemitism and perceptions of Israel are increasingly shaping Jewish life far beyond Israel itself.
President Herzog visiting Moriah College
The findings, published in The Jewish Agency for Israel’s “One People Report,” are based on responses from 1,428 Jewish participants in Israel and 18 countries across North America, Europe, Australia and South America. Conducted by the Ipsos research institute between September and October 2025, the survey explores how Jews worldwide are responding to the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attacks and the broader global climate that followed.
One of the most notable conclusions is the strength of engagement among younger Jews. According to the report, 74% of Jewish young adults worldwide and 67% in Israel believe they can positively influence the future of their community. Overall, 64% of young Jews said they are optimistic about the future of Jewish communal life in their country, roughly twice the level of optimism expressed by older respondents.
That generational gap is central to the report’s significance. In many Western societies, younger generations are often seen as less attached to traditional communal structures. The Jewish data points in the opposite direction: younger Jews appear more connected, more institutionally engaged, and more confident in their ability to shape collective outcomes.
At the same time, the survey highlights growing external pressure. Sixty-nine percent of Jews worldwide and 79% in Israel identified antisemitism as the most serious challenge facing Jewish communities today. In Europe, 43% of respondents said they or a family member experienced antisemitism in the past year, while only 22% of French Jews reported feeling safe as Jews in their country.
These findings place Jewish communities within a wider international debate about minority security and social cohesion in Western democracies. The data suggests that Jewish identity is being shaped not only by internal community life, but also by rising concerns over safety in public spaces, online discourse, and political polarisation.
Another key finding is the role of Israel as a global reference point. A large majority of respondents — 88% — said they see Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people, and 85% said its existence is essential to Jewish continuity. However, 46% also said Israel’s international image is one of the most significant challenges facing their communities, including majorities in Europe and Israel itself.
This creates a growing interconnectedness between domestic politics in various countries and perceptions of Israel abroad. For Jewish communities in the diaspora, Israel is both a cultural anchor and, increasingly, a factor influencing how they are perceived locally.
President of Israel Isaac Herzog said the findings reflect both concern and resilience. “The report presented to me paints a troubling picture of rising antisemitism and a growing erosion of the sense of security among world Jewry,” he said. “We must strengthen mutual responsibility in Israel and across the Jewish world and stand together as one people.”
Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, Chairman of The Jewish Agency’s Executive, said the data also points to unity under pressure. “As tensions rise around us, the Jewish people draw strength from their ability to hold one another up,” he said.
Mark Wilf, Chairman of The Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors, said the challenge now is to turn engagement into sustained leadership. “The optimism and sense of responsibility expressed by younger generations are especially encouraging,” he said. “They signal not only hope, but a readiness to lead.”
The Jewish Agency said it plans to use the findings to strengthen ties between Israel and Jewish communities abroad, support communities facing antisemitism, and deepen youth engagement across global Jewish networks.
