Newsweek: Majority of American Jews Believe Donald Trump Has ‘Some Responsibility’ for Synagogue Shootings

May 22, 2019

By Callum Paton

Some 60 percent of American Jews say President Donald Trump “bears at least some responsibility” for the synagogue shootings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Poway, California, a new poll has shown.

In a broad indictment of the Trump presidency from the Jewish community ahead of the 2020 elections, a survey by the  Jewish Electorate Institute  shows two-thirds of Jewish voter remain “firmly aligned” with the Democratic Party.

Amid a rise in incidents of anti-Semitic violence, the flashpoints for which have been the October 2018 synagogue slayings in Pittsburg, in which 11 worshippers were killed and seven injured, and last month’s shooting at Poway synagogue in California, where one individual was killed and three others were injured, 73 percent of Jewish Americans said they felt less secure than they did two years ago.

Following on from this, as the rise of white nationalism becomes a growing concern, 71 percent of those polled said they disapproved of the way the president was handling anti-Semitism. Some 38 percent have concerns that President Trump is “encouraging violent ultra-right extremists.”

Community members and congregants attend a candlelight vigil for the victim of the Chabad of Poway Synagogue shooting on April 28, 2019 in Poway, California. – A rabbi who carried on preaching despite being wounded in the latest deadly shooting at a US synagogue said on April 28 that Jews would not be intimidated by the “senseless hate” of anti-Semitism.SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

The poll, carried out by Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg, sampled 1,000 Jewish voters across the country between May 6-12. Interviews of those polled were carried out online through a randomly selected panel.

The study also found domestic policy, most importantly healthcare, was most of the utmost concern to U.S. Jews in their voting habits. Strikingly, Israel was the lowest of 16 possibly policy priorities. While the community has remained overwhelmingly pro-Israel (90 percent), just over half also said they were critical of the current Israeli government.

Compared to numbers gathered from a poll in October 2018, the importance of gun safety law, anti-terror initiatives and combating white nationalism have all increased. The feeling of insecurity in the Jewish community is also driving political action, the poll found, with 39 percent saying they want to work to defeat President Trump in 2020. The Democrats did not get off without any criticism, either. Thirty-one percent said they wanted Democrats to do more about anti-Semitism.

Heading into 2020, 67 percent of those Jewish voters polled said they would vote for a generic Democrat over President Trump. At the same time, 65 percent would vote for potential Democratic candidate Joe Biden over President Trump.  

Statement from the Jewish Electorate Institute On The Antisemitic Cold Blooded Murders in Sydney Australia

December 15, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 15, 2025 Media Contact: Steve Rabinowitz press@jewishelectorateinstitute.org Jewish Electorate Institute Statement on Antisemitic Murders in Sydney, Australia Washington, D.C. - The Jewish Electorate Institute (JEI) mourns the victims, stands in solidarity with the Jewish community in Australia, and reaffirms our commitment to confronting antisemitism wherever it appears—through education, accountability, and collective moral clarity. JEI condemns in the strongest possible terms the antisemitic violence that led to the murders at Bondi Beach in Sydney. This horrific act is not only an attack on innocent lives, but an assault on the values of human dignity, pluralism, and safety that democratic societies depend upon. We remain committed to advancing civic engagement, democratic values, and accountability to ensure that antisemitism—wherever it emerges—is confronted early, forcefully, and without political qualification. Antisemitism—whether expressed through rhetoric, intimidation, or violence—has no place in civil society. When hatred is allowed to fester unchecked, it endangers not only Jewish communities but the broader social fabric that protects all minorities. As a nonpartisan organization committed to civic engagement and democratic norms, JEI calls on leaders, institutions, and communities across the political spectrum to speak out clearly and consistently against antisemitism and all forms of hate, and to take meaningful action to prevent violence before it occurs. Make our voices heard by urging elected officials, civic leaders, educators, faith communities, and civil society organizations to act with clarity and resolve. Condemn antisemitism unequivocally. Invest in education that confronts hatred and misinformation and strengthens protections for vulnerable communities. Reject the normalization of rhetoric that dehumanizes or incites violence. Silence and ambiguity enable hate to grow. Collective, principled action can stop it. We must take action now!

JEI Addresses JCRC of Greater Washington and Executive Director Controversy

December 5, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2025 Media Contact: Steve Rabinowitz Bluelight Strategies steve@bluelightstrategies.com

JEI's Voice in National Policy Conversation

December 1, 2025
JEI's work continues to be noted in national-level debates, and is proud to continue to be recognized in national media, including The New York Times this month. Our grassroots work is resonating in national-level policy conversations. As policy debates evolve, JEI remains committed to fostering informed civic engagement, interfaith dialogue, and community mobilization. "...Mr. Goldman and Mr. Espaillat also represent districts with substantial Jewish populations, according to research by the Jewish Electorate Institute . (Mr. Goldman’s district also includes large pockets of immigrant Muslim voters from Bangladesh and other countries.)" Continue to the article here