A nationwide survey of the American people released Thursday by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that anti-Semitic attitudes have risen slightly in America, demonstrating once again that "anti-Semitic beliefs continue to hold a vice grip" on a small but not insubstantial segment of America.

The ADL survey found that 15 percent of Americans -- nearly 35 million adults -- hold deeply anti-Semitic views, an increase of 3 percent from a similar poll conducted in 2009, and matching the levels of anti-Semitic propensities recorded in the US in 2005 and 2007.

Among the more disturbing findings, the ADL survey shows that at a time of high unemployment and economic uncertainty, age-old myths about Jews and money and Jewish power in business endure.

"The fact that anti-Semitic attitudes have increased...is troubling and raises questions about the impact of broader trends in America -- financial insecurity, social uncertainty, the decline in civility and the growth of polarization -- on attitudes toward Jews," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "It is disturbing that with all of the strides we have made in becoming a more tolerant society, anti-Semitic beliefs continue to hold a vice grip on a small but not insubstantial segment of the American public."

ADL is one of eight agencies funded by The Birmingham Jewish Federation Annual Campaign that combat anti-Semitism at home and abroad. (The term anti-Semitism refers to hatred of and hostility toward Jews.)

A member of our Jewish community brought to our attention a worldwide campaign to encourage people to vote for Israel's Dead Sea to become a new Wonder of Nature. The contest, which is for the New 7 Wonders of Nature, has the Dead Sea competing against 27 other candidates.

The appeal for votes comes directly from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who maintains that if the Dead Sea wins, it would generate an expected 1,500,000 more tourists, who "would visit not only the lowest place on earth, but also other sites and attractions throughout Israel." Israel needs our votes! Please go to the below link for details. The deadline for voting is Nov. 11th.

There was a great piece by Rabbi Aaron Miller in the Washington Post. Aaron, whose parents are Judi and Temple Emanu-El rabbi Jonathan Miller, grew up in Birmingham and reflects on this in his article, including his relationship with his Southern Baptist high school friends.

"There was a book that came out about how unfun it is to be a priest and the Washington Post asked a few of the DC clergy to respond by talking about why they chose the clergy," Aaron explained in an email to family and friends. Aaron, a first-year assistant rabbi at Washington Hebrew Congregation, was one of the ones chosen. Aaron begins his Washington Post piece with the following:

I grew up in Birmingham, Ala., a religious town. In my junior year of high school, something I had never expected started happening to my non-Jewish friends. They fell in love with their Christianity. They started reading the Bible. They would talk theology in the cafeteria. It was inspiring, and in a Jewish way, I began doing the same.

I dusted off the Bible I had received as a bar mitzvah gift, and like my non-Jewish friends, read it cover to cover. The more engaged I became with my Judaism, the more I fell in love with it. By the time I was 17, I had set my sights on the rabbinate. In a way, my Southern Baptist friends turned me into a rabbi.

Even as he begins his career in Washington, Aaron remains connected to Birmingham. The following came from Birmingham Jewish community member Linda Verin subsequent to our recent Update story on Jewish chaplains being remembered at Arlington National Cemetery:

I had never visited Arlington Cemetery until this summer when my father, Bernard Verin, was buried there to honor his service in World War II. It was an incredibly meaningful experience made all the more so by having Rabbi Aaron Miller perform the service. This was his first life cycle event, coming four days after he started his new job.

Without being asked, the military band not only played "America the Beautiful" but "Hatikvah" as well. This ceremony made me realize how important the Jewish religion is to all of us -- especially in times of war.

Photo is of Rabbi Aaron Miller at Arlington National Cemetery.