Yet for progressives, the definition has been accused of being used to suppress free speech, especially on college campuses. “We urge the incoming Biden administration to continue to lead this worldwide effort.” In this context, NGO Monitor has called for governments, as well as NGOs, to adopt and apply the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism,” the organization’s president, Gerald Steinberg, told JNS. “Combating anti-Semitism and ending the exploitation of universal human rights are vital ethical objectives, and are inherently bipartisan. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
The IHRA definition says: “Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. The executive order was signed especially amid the rise in anti-Semitism on college campuses. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on combating anti-Semitism that applied protections to Jews under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by requiring executive agencies to consider the IHRA definition in evaluating cases of discrimination against Jews. The United States is one of more than 34 member countries of the IHRA. They continued, “In particular, the effort to enshrine in domestic law and institutional policy the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Anti-Semitism, with its accompanying ‘contemporary examples,’ risks wrongly equating what may be legitimate activities with anti-Semitism.” We are thus obligated to share our concerns about ways in which the effort to combat anti-Semitism is being misused and exploited to instead suppress legitimate free speech, criticism of Israeli government actions and advocacy for Palestinian rights.” However, the Progressive Israel Network stated that “as organizations that care deeply about the State of Israel and about the well-being of the Jewish people, we are deeply committed to the struggle against anti-Semitism. Over the last several years, the IHRA’s definition on anti-Semitism has been adopted by countries and organizations across the world as the standard to help combat rising anti-Semitism. In a letter to Biden, the Conference stated that the definition “is now the most comprehensive and authoritative definition of anti-Semitism” and therefore “all federal departments and agencies” should consider adopting it, although agencies charged with carrying out Title VI are already required to do so, as the 2019 executive order does not only apply to the Department of Education. The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations pushed back against the Progressive Israel Network and expressed support for the IHRA definition. The collection of groups-known as the Progressive Israel Network-include Ameinu, Americans for Peace Now, Habonim Dror North America, Hashomer Hatzair World Movement, Jewish Labor Committee, J Street, New Israel Fund, Partners for Progressive Israel, Reconstructing Judaism and T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights.
(JNS) As the Biden administration prepares to take on major international issues of the day, a debate has emerged within the American Jewish community over whether the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism should be adopted into law.Ī group of left-wing Jewish and Israeli groups issued a joint statement last week in opposition to adopting the definition, claiming that doing so would silence criticism of Israel.
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