Which Poses the Biggest Threat to Jews Today?

For more than two millennia, the Jewish people have endured exile, persecution, genocide, and rebirth. Yet as the 21st century unfolds, three threats shape the debate about Jewish survival more than any others: antisemitism, wars and terrorism, and the often-overlooked but devastating force of assimilation. While antisemitism and violence threaten Jewish lives physically, assimilation erodes Jewish identity from within. Together, they form a complex challenge to Jewish continuity — one that demands urgent attention from policymakers, communal leaders, and individuals alike.

The Alarming Rise of Antisemitism Worldwide

Antisemitism — long thought to be a relic of the past — is surging across the globe with a ferocity unseen in decades. In the United States, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recorded 9,354 antisemitic incidents in 2024, a 140% increase from the previous year — the highest figure since tracking began. In the United Kingdom, the Community Security Trust (CST) reported 3,528 incidents in 2024, including assaults, vandalism, and online harassment — another all-time high.

Across Europe, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) found that almost 90% of Jews feel antisemitism has worsened in their country, yet only 28% report incidents to authorities. Jewish students on U.S. and European campuses face intimidation, protests against Israel frequently cross into antisemitic rhetoric, and synagogues require armed guards in cities once thought safe.

This normalization of hatred fuels a broader Jewish identity crisis. Constant hostility leads some to conceal their identity, avoid synagogues, or disengage from communal life — a phenomenon that, while less visible than violence, further weakens Jewish continuity. Antisemitic incidents during 2020–2024:

Sources: ADL (U.S.), CST (U.K.), CRIF (France), BfV (Germany), B’nai Brith (Canada)

The data paints a stark picture: in nearly every Western democracy, antisemitic incidents have at least doubled — and in the United States, they have more than tripled in just four years. This is not a temporary spike but part of a broader global antisemitism trend, fueled by online hate, political polarization, and the weaponization of anti-Israel sentiment.

War and Terrorism

Wars and terrorism have always shaped the Jewish experience — from the destruction of the Second Temple to the Holocaust, from pogroms to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In recent years, these threats have taken new forms but remain deadly. Since October 2023, Israel has faced an escalation of rocket attacks, with more than 370 rockets fired into Israeli territory by mid-2025. Meanwhile, Jewish communities in Ukraine, Russia, and parts of Latin America have also felt the impact of regional instability, with some forced to flee violence or rising nationalism.

Terrorism targeting Jews abroad remains a danger as well. Attacks on synagogues in Germany and the U.S., the hostage crisis in Texas (2022), and repeated threats to Jewish institutions underscore the fact that Jewish life remains vulnerable even far from conflict zones. Yet, as severe as these dangers are, their demographic consequences are limited. Israel’s population continues to grow despite wars, and Jewish communities historically have rebounded after violence. The same cannot be said for assimilation.

Antisemitism Vs War: The Numbers Tell a Story

When comparing antisemitism and war as threats to Jewish survival, the statistics offer a sobering perspective. Even at their most destructive, modern conflicts and terrorist attacks claim dozens or hundreds of Jewish lives per year. Antisemitism contributes to trauma, emigration, and insecurity — but Jewish populations have weathered such storms before. Assimilation, however, is a different kind of crisis. Its casualties are not counted in lives lost but in identities erased — and they number in the hundreds of thousands each generation.

The Silent Threat of Assimilation

Assimilation — the gradual abandonment of Jewish identity through intermarriage, secularization, and disconnection from heritage — is perhaps the most powerful force reshaping the global Jewish population today. According to the Pew Research Center, the intermarriage rate among U.S. Jews since 2010 is 61%, with only about one-third of children in interfaith families being raised exclusively Jewish. Sociologist Steven Goldstein calls assimilation a “demographic time bomb”: “Antisemitism kills bodies. Assimilation kills identities. And while antisemitism alerts us to danger, assimilation does its work quietly, invisibly, and irreversibly.”

This is not a new problem. From ancient Hellenism to Enlightenment Europe, Jews have repeatedly faced the temptation to integrate fully into surrounding societies. But the stakes are now higher: global mobility, secularism, and weakened communal institutions accelerate the pace of assimilation like never before.

Reconnecting with Roots as a Response

If antisemitism and war are storms, assimilation is erosion — and erosion is fought not with walls but with roots. Reconnecting with Jewish heritage is the most effective antidote to demographic decline. Educational initiatives, Hebrew language programs, Jewish summer camps, and heritage trips like Birthright strengthen identity from an early age. Community engagement — through synagogues, volunteerism, and Jewish cultural life — builds resilience against assimilation. And increasingly, obtaining Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return is emerging as a powerful tool for anchoring Jewish belonging in a globalized world.

The Israel Law of Return, enacted in 1950, guarantees every Jew — and their children, grandchildren, and spouses — the right to citizenship in the Jewish state. It’s not just a legal framework; it’s a bridge between past and future. For many, making aliyah transforms Jewish identity from something inherited into something actively lived.

WRAI Assistance: Building a Future Beyond Threats

The challenges facing the Jewish people today — antisemitism, war, and assimilation — are formidable. But history shows that the Jewish story is one of endurance and renewal. With the right support, those challenges can become opportunities for growth. At WRAI, we specialize in helping individuals and families strengthen their Jewish identity through practical, meaningful steps — from obtaining Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return to exploring repatriation options and reconnecting with ancestral roots. We guide clients through every stage of the process, from documentation to integration, ensuring a seamless transition for those who wish to build their future in Israel or simply secure a deeper connection to the Jewish people.

The evidence is clear. Antisemitism remains a dangerous and escalating reality, threatening Jewish safety in the U.S., the U.K., and beyond. Wars and terrorism take lives and test Israel’s resilience. But assimilation — invisible, voluntary, and irreversible — represents the greatest long-term challenge to Jewish continuity. The Jewish future will not be decided by those who hate us, but by how we respond to the forces that pull us away from who we are. Reclaiming identity, strengthening community, and building tangible ties to Israel are essential to ensuring that Jewish life not only survives but thrives in the generations to come. For those seeking to make that connection real — through aliyah, dual citizenship, or deeper engagement — support and expertise are available. The story of the Jewish people is still being written. The choice to be part of it is ours.