Survey: Most Jewish Students Worldwide Conceal Identity

A new study shows that more than three-quarters of Jewish students globally are hiding their identities as antisemitism intensifies on university campuses.

According to the Tuesday report published by the ADL and the World Union of Jewish Students, 78% of Jewish students said they conceal their religious affiliation, while 81% hide their support for Zionism. The survey gathered responses from 1,727 students across more than 60 countries during the 2024–2025 academic year.

The findings echo earlier research documenting a culture of fear and harassment at universities since Hamas launched the Gaza war with its October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel. A B’nai B’rith International and European Union of Jewish Students poll found antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric becoming routine on European campuses. In the United States, ADL reported that 83% of Jewish college students have witnessed or experienced antisemitism since that day.

“We are distressed and disappointed by the results of this survey, but not at all surprised,” said WUJS president Josh Cohen. “Since October 7th, Jewish students around the world have been speaking to the rise in antisemitism and ostracization in their regions. This survey only further highlights how striking the treatment of Jewish students is on campus.”

Researchers described a worldwide student body increasingly fearful and isolated. One-third of respondents said they knew Jewish classmates who had been threatened, and nearly one in five knew someone who was physically attacked. The report noted that Orthodox students faced twice as much discrimination as others, and Jewish women were far more likely than men to hide their identity.

Nearly 29% of students reported experiencing bias from fellow students, while 9% said it came from professors or other university staff.

One example of the anxiety students face came from Vienna. “There was an ‘Intifada Camp’ glorifying Hamas on campus, and our building already had antisemitic graffiti on it,” recalled Victoria B., a Jewish Studies student. “One day, I was terrified to attend a seminar, there were only 10 of us in the lecture hall, and there were rumors that camp participants would roam campus looking for ‘Zionists.’ We canceled the seminar and fled through the back exit. For a moment, I felt like it was the 1930s, and Jewish students were being chased from their universities.”

The report urged universities to formally adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. It recommended appointing coordinators to address antisemitism and to support Jewish and Israeli students and faculty, along with conducting campus climate studies, launching peer education programs, and ensuring clear accommodations for religious observance.

“This survey exposes a devastating reality: Jewish students across the globe are being forced to hide fundamental aspects of their identity just to feel safe on campus,” said Marina Rosenberg, ADL’s senior vice president for international affairs. “When over three-quarters of Jewish students feel they must conceal their religious and Zionist identity for their own safety, the situation is nothing short of dire. As the academic year begins, this data provides essential insights to guide university leadership in addressing this campus crisis head-on.”