Being Jewish in America Today: Identity, Safety, and the Psychological Cost of Uncertainty

In recent years, we have seen a quiet but steady rise in Jewish clients expressing a sense of fear, disconnection, and exhaustion. Regardless of where one falls on questions of politics or Zionism, there is a growing, palpable anxiety among Jews in America. A sense that something has shifted. That being visibly or even privately Jewish is no longer safe in ways it once felt.

Some of this shows up in the workplace. Clients describe no longer feeling comfortable mentioning holidays, family in Israel, or even sharing last names that might signal identity. Longstanding professional relationships have fractured, often without warning, over a misread comment or assumption. There is a new level of hypervigilance—monitoring what to say, who is listening, and what might follow if one is misunderstood.

Outside of work, the strain extends into personal relationships. People are suddenly realizing that friends they have known for years do not fully see them or no longer make space for their pain. I hear from patients who feel they are being asked to explain or defend their existence in conversations where they are the only Jewish voice. The loneliness in that position is acute.

These experiences have psychological consequences. There is grief in watching relationships change. There is shame in feeling like one must hide. And there is a quiet dread that arises when safety—something most people take for granted—can no longer be assumed.

In clinical work, I hold space for the nuance. The tension of feeling deeply American and simultaneously aware that belonging can be revoked. The challenge of sitting with complexity when the world is demanding simplicity. Therapy, in this context, is not about having the right opinion. It is about creating a space where one does not have to edit or mask their identity in order to be accepted.

For Jews experiencing identity confusion, relational rupture, or symptoms of anxiety and fatigue that feel hard to name, you are not imagining this. The climate has changed. And it is reasonable to feel overwhelmed, guarded, or unsure of how to move forward.

If you are looking for therapy that acknowledges these layers and meets you with steadiness, I invite you to connect. I work virtually with adults across California and specialize in supporting those navigating complex identity, relational shifts, and internalized pressure to adapt in order to stay safe.