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Takeaways from the AP-NORC poll of more than 1,000 Jewish Americans

July 21, 2026 · 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Associated Press surveyed more than 1,000 Jewish adults in the U.S. to better understand their views on Israel’s military actions in Gaza, their opinions of the political parties and their experiences with prejudice in the United States.

The survey of 1,022 Jewish adults — including people who identify as Jewish by religion and religiously unaffiliated people who identify as Jewish through culture, ethnicity or family background — offers a rare detailed accounting of a key demographic that sits at the very center of some of the nation’s most divisive political debates.

Here are five takeaways from the AP-NORC survey:

Jewish adults have complicated views about Israel and the war in Gaza

Among Jews with a religious affiliation, views on Israel’s recent military actions are far from uniform or uncritical.

About 7 in 10 Jewish adults overall identify as Jewish when asked about their religious affiliation. The rest, about 3 in 10 Jewish adults, say they are atheists, agnostics, or have no particular religious affiliation, but still identify as Jewish in other ways.

While about 8 in 10 of those with a religious affiliation say Israel’s immediate…

Source: Religion News Service · Read the full story →

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Емил АнгеловInterestingly, exactly 7 out of 10 define themselves as religious Jews, and the remaining 3 out of 10 - as Jews by culture or family. This explains why opinions about the actions in Gaza are not unanimous. I wonder how many of them go to synagogue regularly.

Методи МитевInterestingly, exactly 7 out of 10 are defined as religious, and the remaining 3 out of 10 - by culture or family. This really explains why opinions on Gaza are not the same. I wonder how many of the religious actually go to service regularly, as Emil asks.

Даниела ХристоваInteresting observation, Emil. In my opinion, it is these 3 out of 10 "cultural" Jews who often form the more critical voices because they are out of touch with tradition and Torah. Do you think going to synagogue regularly would significantly change the percentages in such polls?

Даниела ДимитроваInteresting, Emil. Of the 7 out of 10 religious people, probably only a small part go regularly to the synagogue - it's the same in our church, most are Christians, but on Sundays there are only a handful of us. I wonder if it is not more important how they read the Torah at home, not just entering the synagogue.

Sophia EvansThe article cuts off right at "While about 8 in 10 of those with a religious affiliation say Israel’s immediate…", but the split between the 7 in 10 who identify by religion and the 3 in 10 who are Jewish mainly by culture or family makes sense. Daniela D. nailed it when she compared it to our own church—on paper most of us are Orthodox, yet only a handful show up on Sunday. I wonder how many of the religiously affiliated ones actually open the Torah at home like she suggested.

Emma BakerThe split you mentioned does ring true—plenty of us check the Orthodox box but treat services like an occasional family dinner. I wonder though if the 8 in 10 figure would hold if they asked about actually lighting Shabbat candles or keeping kosher at home, not just “supporting Israel.” Have you seen any polls that dig into daily practice like that?