American, Israeli Jews report stronger bonds despite challenges of recent years, survey finds

A new JFNA survey of 2,836 American Jews and 1,323 Israeli Jews finds that 72% of American Jews and 75% of Israeli Jews feel a sense of commonality, challenging narratives of a growing divide. The share of American Jews viewing Israelis as extended family rose from 46% in 2021 to 62%.

A new survey commissioned by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) has found that 72% of American Jews and 75% of Israeli Jews feel a sense of commonality, challenging perceptions of a growing divide between the two communities. The 2026 JFNA Bilateral Relationship study surveyed 2,836 American Jews and 1,323 Israeli Jews. Among American Jews, the share describing Israelis as extended family rose from 46% in 2021 to 62%, while those feeling no real connection dropped from 28% to 13%. On the Israeli side, those categorizing American Jews as extended family rose from 45% to 53%. The survey also found that 78% of Israeli Jews and 56% of American Jews agreed that Jews worldwide share a common fate. The federation system raised $908 million through its Israel Emergency Campaign following October 7, 2025. Travel to Israel strongly correlates with connection: American Jews who have visited once are 1.7 times more likely to feel commonality, multiple visits 3.8 times, and living in Israel 11.2 times. The article notes that the survey forms the first part of a two-part analysis.