The Jewish Community’s Surprising Levels of Civic Participation

Despite being a minority, the Jewish community has had a long and storied impact on American politics. From Supreme Court Justices Brandeis and Ginsburg to leaders of labor and social movements, including Emma Goldman, Samuel Gompers, and Nadine Strossen, Jews have been active in American politics for centuries.

Even before immigrating en masse to the United States in the late 19th century, many European Jews were socially engaged and vocal about inequalities. Numerous scholars have documented that Jews from around the world brought a tradition of political activism to American shores.

Despite a huge rise in anti-Semitism, violence, and intimidation against Jews today, Jewish Americans remain deeply community-focused and continue to embrace political debate. As the nation heads into the 2022 midterm elections, Jewish Americans should not be overlooked as a concentrated, engaged electoral constituency.

New data from American Enterprise Institute’s Survey Center on American life reveals that the Jewish community’s political behavior remains unusually relative to the nation as a whole. More specifically, new data from the American National Family Life Survey of over 5,000 Americans reveals that Jewish Americans’ penchant for political engagement remains notably higher than the national norm. Jewish Americans are, for instance, far more likely to engage in political matters and vote. While 17 percent of Americans reported not voting in the 2020 presidential election, just 3 percent of Jews did the same.

A commitment to politics and a love of discussion – a tradition David Wolpe described as “a kind of Jewish sacrament” – comes through in the data as well. Jews are far more likely to talk regularly about politics with their families at home compared to most Americans. Over a quarter (27 percent) of Jews report having discussed politics with their families once a week or more while growing up, compared to just 16 percent of Americans overall. And while 44 percent of Jews responded that they seldom or never talked politics with their families, 59 percent of Americans revealed the same. Without a doubt, politics is far more central to the Jewish community than it is for most Americans.

Going further, when asked if one has argued with a family member about politics, about a third (32 percent) of Americans report this happening in the past six months. About a quarter (23 percent) state that it has been at least a year since they have done so, while a third (33 percent) report they never have.

While Jewish respondents’ behavior here is almost identical to the national figure, Jewish Americans stand out in one notable way: the outcome of their family disagreements is more positive. The survey queried if one has ever stopped talking to a family member because that family member held personal beliefs or views that the respondent found to be offensive or hurtful. Almost a quarter (22 percent) of Americans have effectively canceled their families due to disagreements. But just 13 percent of Jews have cut off a family member because of their personal views. Simply put, Jews are appreciably less likely to cancel a relative and shut down debate over controversial beliefs than the average American.

Finally, those in the Jewish community remain more deeply connected and engaged with their local community life. This in turn may influence the desire to talk about politics more openly and more often.

Roughly four in 10 (38 percent) Jews are members of a community group or neighborhood association compared to just 20 percent of the national population. And over a third (34 percent) of Jews are members of a hobby or activity group, such as a book, gardening, or outdoors club; just 19 percent of Americans are members of such groups.

It should come as no surprise, then, that Jews are happier with the quality of life in their local community: 62 percent state they are completely or very satisfied with their local community compared to just 45 percent of Americans overall.

Happiness with one’s community aside, the fact remains that Jewish Americans are much more involved in their local neighborhoods than most Americans, and they are more open to political discussion. These are both gateways that lead to political engagement and voting.

Overall, the data clearly reveals that politics and community continue to reside at the very core of Jewish identity.

Despite potent forces of assimilation and anti-Semitism, Jews are more involved in their local communities and more likely to talk politics than the average American, which should not be overlooked in 2022. Even with relatively small numbers, the Jewish community’s proclivity toward civic participation suggests that they will continue to be a political force for years to come.

Samuel J. Abrams is a professor of politics at Sarah Lawrence College and a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.