The Jewish Central Council, together with the analysis company Infostat, has conducted a survey about how Swedish Jews experience the situation after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. Members of the Jewish congregations in Helsingborg, Gothenburg, Malmö and Stockholm have responded and the results are unfortunately disappointing. Our hope is that this investigation can lead to those in power taking the situation of Sweden’s Jews even more seriously.
The majority have previously perceived that it was relatively safe to live with a Jewish identity. Over half of the respondents think that it has generally been safe to live with an open Jewish identity in Sweden in recent years.
Strongly increased insecurity in the near term
- The insecurity surrounding living with an open Jewish identity in Sweden has worsened significantly over the past month. Just over seven out of ten feel that it has become much more unsafe.
- Widespread concern about wearing symbols of Jewish identity
- The majority do not wear Jewish symbols in public and insecurity about doing so is widespread. More than four out of five feel insecure about wearing Jewish symbols.
- Widespread concern about harassment and violence. Those who feel that it has recently become more unsafe to live with an open Jewish identity describe a serious concern. Completely dominant is increased concern about incitement and harassment, but there is also a widespread fear of violence, persecution and even lethal violence.
- Pessimistic view of the future for Jews in Sweden More than three out of four believe that the security of living with a Jewish identity in Sweden will deteriorate in the coming years. A narrow majority believe that security will deteriorate significantly.
- Jews do not feel safe to stay everywhere in Sweden Eight out of ten state that there are areas that feel unsafe because of anti-Semitism. Above all, Malmö is mentioned, suburbs with a large population originating in the Middle East, large cities in general and large gatherings of people.
- The majority worry about harassment A clear majority worries about being exposed to antismitism. You are more afraid of someone in the family being exposed to antisemitism than you are of yourself. Three out of four worry that someone in the family will be exposed.
- Widespread discussions about leaving Sweden Almost half have discussed moving from Sweden recently. Antisemitism is the absolutely dominant cause.
Lack of insights and efforts
A majority thinks that those in power lack their understanding of the nature and scope of anti-Semitism in Sweden. Two out of three perceive that efforts against anti-Semitism by Swedish authorities are limited or non-existent.
