California is on track to become the first state in the U.S. to allow residents to identify their Jewish heritage as an ethnic category on official demographic forms. Senate Bill 1387, passed by the state legislature on August 31, would require state agencies to include a checkbox for Jewish ethnicity on a range of documents, including public assistance applications and college forms. The bill now awaits action from Governor Gavin Newsom, who may sign it into law or issue a veto.

Currently, California recognizes nearly 50 racial and ethnic identities for data collection purposes but categorizes Jewish identity solely as a religion. The bill’s author, State Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles), aims to address this by improving data accuracy to better understand and serve Jewish communities throughout the state, which is home to an estimated 1.2 million Jewish residents—second only to New York nationally.

Supporters argue that recognizing Jewish identity as an ethnicity, not just a religion, reflects the complex ways many Jews understand their identity, which often encompasses ancestry, culture, and peoplehood. A 2021 Pew Research study found that American Jews define their identity in varied terms, with only about 11% describing it mainly as religious, while many others emphasize cultural or ancestral elements. Advocates say inclusion in demographic forms could help identify disparities in health, education, and discrimination affecting Jewish populations. Jewish California, a sponsoring advocacy group, contends that excluding Jewish ethnicity from official data reinforces misconceptions of Judaism as solely a religious category and hampers efforts to address bias and inequality.

However, the bill has faced opposition within the Jewish community and beyond. Critics caution that the legislation simplifies Jewish identity by grouping diverse populations into one ethnic box, potentially erasing the distinct histories and experiences of subgroups such as Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian, and Ashkenazi Jews. Rabbi Cat Zavis, addressing the California Assembly’s Judiciary Committee, argued that Judaism is a religion and that categorizing all Jews as a single ethnicity overlooks the nuanced identities and historical experiences of various Jewish communities.

There are also concerns about the potential risks of government data collection on Jewish identity. Some opponents highlight historical parallels to the tracking of Jews during the Holocaust, warning that state documentation could be misused or increase vulnerability to antisemitism. The Bay Area chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, an advocacy group supporting Palestinian rights, expressed apprehension about the possible consequences of officially distinguishing Jewish ethnicity.

Antisemitic incidents remain a concern in the United States. According to the Anti-Defamation League, reported antisemitic acts in 2023 totaled 6,274, a decline from the previous year but still significantly higher than a decade ago. Supporters of the bill emphasize that identifying as Jewish on state forms would remain voluntary and stress the bill’s goal of empowerment.

Senator Stern has spoken personally about his motivations, recalling experiences of antisemitic harassment while growing up in Los Angeles, where he had no opportunity to identify as Jewish on school or college forms. He hopes the legislation will provide a space for individuals to express their Jewish identity on their own terms and foster greater understanding.

Despite differing perspectives on the definition and implications of Jewish identity, the bill has opened a broader conversation about how ethnicity and religion intersect in demographic data and how communities are recognized by the state.