we are a people who society has continuously damned us if we do or we don't. Well, we will and we will be better for it. Those who love the Jews are loved in return. Am Israel Chai

from 2002 to 2011. I am concerned because apparently ... "Nearly half of all respondents agreed with the statement that Jews "stick together more than other Americans, and 33 percent said they believe Jews "always like to be at the head of things."" Neither of these things sound negative. Closeness with your family is a good thing (I know from watching people who unlike me have families) and having more occasions for success can only be a good thing. But the fact that the ADL considers these anti-Semitic, while remarkably worrying to me, is not the reason for my post. It just is worrying and needed remarking on. The US is coming too more of a general feeling of goodwill toward Jews. I would say that this is despite an intense media push toward greater anti-Semitism. I would also say this is despite the atrocious example the current presidential administration is providing the US. That US attitudes toward Jews has worsened by 25% (or 20%, that is from 12 to 15) is not at all surprising when the above Role Model and Societal Teachers are both pressing so hard in that direction. Hopefully, between 2013 and 2016 US attitudes toward Jews will improve. The past 3 years have been damaging but not irreparably so.

I would like to see the actual polling data for opinions before commenting on the "views" of people in general. That being said, the incidents of anti-semitic acts are interesting. Has anyone noticed there's more in LIBERAL (blue) states than in CONSERVATIVE (red) states, like Texas? I have been a Texas resident for nearly 17 years. I often hear people who are not from Texas bemoaning the "intolerance" of Texans and yet here we are, Texas has fewer incidents than any other state. But I would also like to point out that in the states where there's a high concentration of "evangelical Christians" (you know, those nasty missionizers) there are less incidents of attacks against Jews. I, personally, am not an Evangelical Christian. My sect does not seek to "evangelize" in the "disturb your saturday morning" style of SBC churches. However, we support Israel and the Jewish people and are told we do it "to bring Jesus back" (a misrepresentation of our beliefs, by the way). So we're damned if we do; damned if we don't. We continue to support Israel, regardless of the paranoia about motives, however. As to the general issue: you will see that in liberal areas, hatred of Israel and the jews runs deep and hard. You will see pro-palestinianism popping up as well. The Occupy Wall Streeters truly believe the Jews own the banks, hollywood, etc., and are "responsible" for all of our financial, moral and employment issues. But here's something to think about. When liberal Jews hug a pro-palestinian view; when they seek to squelch their Christian supporters' freedom of expression in favor of Islamists "rights"; when these liberals in your own midst (like Mikey Weinstein) condemn Christian Evangelicals but call for "fairness" towards a Nidal Hassan (the Ft. Hood shooter), and not even the ADL will condemn him, can you not expect a negative view to encapsulate? I wish more Jewish people in the USA would tell the Tovia Singers and the Mikey Weinsteins to just shut up and stop cutting off the very people who support Israel and the Jews. Right now, guys, it's the Evangelicals and people like my sect (Anabaptist) who believe Israel not only has a right to exist, but an imperative to.

Education in the US tends both to increase one's awareness of the dangers of criticizing Jewry AND (if it leads to career success) it increases the potential cost (price tag) of allowing such views to be known. Nothing to do with "knowing better" except on a cost/benefit basis.