The Coalition for Jewish Values, representing over 2,500 Orthodox Jewish rabbis in matters of public policy, called for Congressional support for the Define to Defeat Act of 2024, proposed by Congressman Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY). This bill requires that when referring to anti-Semitism, the Federal government use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism, along with its contemporary examples.
“The Former Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the [British] Commonwealth, Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks of blessed memory, taught that ‘One of the enduring facts of history is that most anti-Semites do not think of themselves as anti-Semites,’” said CJV President Emeritus Rabbi Pesach Lerner. “This is why it is so crucial that anti-Semitism be defined in a neutral fashion that clearly encompasses when it is couched as ‘anti-Israel’ rhetoric.”
Recent years have seen efforts to cloud the definition of anti-Semitism, specifically to exonerate hatred against Jews when using different facades from those used by anti-Semites of earlier eras. The “Jerusalem Declaration” on anti-Semitism, for example, responds to the IHRA definition by claiming that opposition to Jewish self-determination in the Jewish Holy Land is not hateful. The “Nexus Project” derides the IHRA definition as something “used as a tool for suppressing free speech and criticism of Israeli policies,” and goes on to claim that replication of the Nazi boycott of 1932 is not anti-Semitic when hidden behind anti-Israel oratory.
“The other definitions offered are actually anti-Semitic, in that they exist to mask anti-Semitism in its most potent current form,” added CJV Rabbinic Circle Chairman Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer. “This is why it is so crucial to adopt the IHRA definition, rejecting efforts to hide the obvious connection between classical anti-Semitic tropes and lies said about Israel today. We hope all Members of Congress will support this bill.”
