New survey: most American Jews say they felt safer in 1975 than they do today
WASHINGTON — As print publications vanish and Jewish communal life faces rising challenges, Moment Magazine is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a bold, deeply reported collector’s edition — one that doesn’t just look back but sounds a cultural alarm.
A centerpiece of the summer commemorative issue is a new survey, “Moment at 50: A Stark Portrait of American Jewish Change.” Almost 60% of those who responded believe Jews are not better off or more accepted in America today than they were in 1975, when Moment was founded. The most cited reason: rising antisemitism. Nearly one in three respondents say they have considered leaving the U.S. because of it. One writes, “Jews were not hated like this 50 years ago.”
This striking sense of unease anchors a wide-ranging issue of stories that explore the arc of Jewish life since 1975 — a year that marked the launch of Moment by Nobel Laureate Elie
Wiesel and writer Leonard Fein. Today, the magazine is helmed by Editor-in-Chief and CEO Nadine Epstein, who has led the publication since 2004, transforming it into a vibrant, womenled multi-media platform that won 27 AJPA Rockower Awards in June.
“There have been times in history when Jewish life changed little from generation to generation — but not the past 50 years,” said Epstein. “This half-century has been defined by rapid social and technological transformation.” She warns against letting the past decade define Jewish life in the United States. “Every way you look at it, America is greatly enriched by Jewish Americans — and we are enriched by her. We must not allow antisemitism to become the dominant narrative of Jewish life in America.”
Under Epstein’s leadership, Moment deliberately has a centrist editorial stance that reflects and respects its ideologically diverse readership. Most survey respondents identify as either center, center-left or center-right — a balance that is increasingly rare in today’s polarized media landscape. That editorial independence has helped Moment become a trusted forum for civil, nuanced debate across the Jewish spectrum. “Many people today are longing for a centrist platform that actively seeks out voices from across the political spectrum, and we are helping to build it,” says Epstein. “Moment is unique in that it encourages and nurtures forbidden conversations that bridge chasms, exploring subjects that others often avoid or oversimplify through open-minded dialogue.”
The 50th anniversary issue offers a rich retrospective of the past 50 years, including:
- A collection of pivotal moments that have shaped Jewish American life since 1975 with eminent guest thinkers such as historians Simon Schama and Deborah Lipstadt
- A cross-denominational rabbinic roundtable in which clergy ranging from different Jewish denominations reflect on what would surprise their 1975 predecessors
- A list of 50 groundbreaking Jewish artists, writers, and performers who defined the past five decades
- A journey through the most important Jewish food and culinary traditions in the United States over the past 50 years
- A “Time Capsule” that dives into stories published in Moment’s first issue (May-June 1975) and reveals their relevance today
- An anniversary essay that looks at today from the perspective of 1975 and explores the challenge facing the American Jewish community in the next 50 years
Moment is lauded by people on all sides of the political spectrum. As Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Clarence Page says, “Your magazine is constantly breaking new ground in journalism and offering what Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. used to call ‘an opportunity to participate in the beauty of diversity.’” According to Glenn Frankel, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, “In an era when fact-free rants and racist slurs poison our national discourse, authentic journalism is more valuable than ever, yet harder to achieve. Moment does it in every issue. Its calm, well-informed voice of reason is a national treasure and an act of faith and courage.”The survey was conducted between February 2025 and March 2025 and included more than 500 responses.
About Moment Magazine
Founded in 1975 by Elie Wiesel and Leonard Fein, Moment is an independent magazine of Jewish politics, culture, and ideas. Based in Washington, D.C., Moment is known for its awardwinning journalism, diverse voices, and commitment to civil discourse across ideological divides. Moment remains in print but is now a thriving multi-media community home for wideranging conversation and innovative, forward-looking projects such as MomentLive! and The Wide River Project. Learn more at momentmag.com.
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Contact:
Raina Grossnab
Moment
646-879-5859
[email protected]
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