A Public Opinion Study of Anti-Semitism in New York City

Abstract

A NTI-SEMITISM expresses itself in several forms of overt action. These include discrimination in industry, quotas in professional schools, acts of gangsterism and hoodlumism such as the defacing of synagogues and the beating up of Jewish youngters, to mention a few. A considerable body of public opinion tacitly approves of these activities and accepts the prejudices which are characteristic of anti-semitism. This study of anti-semitic opinions in New York City examined some of these attitudes, with special attention being paid to apparently contradictory differences found between some of the economic and educational groups within the major religious groups. To study the anti-semitic feelings of the population several questions were chosen which were considered suitable as reflectors of these feelings. The questions sought for expressions of disapproval of the number of Jews holding government jobs, judgments on the relative honesty of Jewish business men, criticism of the patriotism of Jews, and fear of the power of Jews in the United States. A schedule was constructed containing direct questions on these subjects, along with a number of background items. The sample selected to be analyzed was stratified on five characteristics, random samples being drawn from three rental groups, two education groups, two nativity groups (native and foreign born), and Negro and white groups, proportional to the relative size of these groups in the New York City population, as found in the Sixteenth Census of the United States. Samples were drawn from four religious groups, based upon the estimated proportions from each group