Hispanics tend to have more negative opinions of Jews when compared to other ethnic groups

John DeSio:

"Existing research supports the conclusion that Hispanics hold more negative views of Jews than non-Hispanics do, but the extent of that difference and its pattern are unclear," writes Tom W. Smith, director of the General Social Survey at the National Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago, and author of the new American Jewish Committee report, “Hispanic Attitudes Toward Jews.”

The existing data, writes Smith, indicate a range of external and internal explanations for Hispanics having more negative views of Jews than non-Hispanics, including anti-Semitic elements in Latin American Catholicism; fascist political movements in Latin America; little positive exposure to the Jewish community in both Latin America and the U.S.; and socio-demographic and attitudinal differences separating the Hispanic and Jewish communities in the U.S.

"American Jews, and Americans in general, have good reason to care about the attitudes this highly diverse group holds toward Jews," said Dina Siegel Vann, director of AJC's Latino and Latin American Institute. "A majority of Hispanics and Jews end up on the same side of most issues," writes Smith, even though there are "large differences in socio-economic status, religion, immigration status and historical experiences" that separate the two communities.

HISPANIC ATTITUDES TOWARD JEWS