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Rabbi Gewirtz in the Sunday Star Ledger
NJ rabbi: Defining antisemitism will help stop this dangerous resurgence in its tracks
The brutal Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel in 2023 opened up a Pandora’s Box of dormant hatred and directly led to unprecedented levels of antisemitism in the United States. In their most recent national annual report, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) tallied a total of 8,873 incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment, and vandalism in 2023.
The brutal Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel in 2023 opened up a Pandora’s Box of dormant hatred and directly led to unprecedented levels of antisemitism in the United States. In their most recent national annual report, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) tallied a total of 8,873 incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment, and vandalism in 2023.
This represented a 140-percent increase from 2022, and the highest level recorded since ADL started tracking this data in 1979. Here in New Jersey, the ADL has documented incident after incident of antisemitic intimidation, harassment and violence directed at our community.
Worried? You’re not alone. The New Jersey legislature, though, has the opportunity to stop this scourge by passing S1292, a bill to formally adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. Merely defining antisemitism, a simple step, will go a long way toward stopping this dangerous resurgence in its tracks.
The IHRA definition, used by more than 45 countries, more than 35 U.S. states, and a growing number of institutions, offers a comprehensive framework for understanding how antisemitism manifests—both in overt hatred and in more modern, coded expressions, including the demonization of Israel as a proxy for attacking Jews.
Current laws, while essential in addressing overt acts of hate, are not sufficient to combat the evolving and often subtle manifestations of antisemitism. Legal frameworks tend to focus on prosecutable offenses, such as hate crimes and discrimination, but they do not always account for the more insidious forms of antisemitism, including coded language, institutional bias, and the delegitimization of Jewish identity.
he IHRA definition fills this critical gap by providing a comprehensive guideline to recognize and address antisemitic rhetoric and actions before they escalate into violence or systemic discrimination. For this reason, Biden-era United States Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt called the definition “one of the most fundamental tools we have to combat” antisemitism.
Opponents argue that adopting the IHRA definition outlaws criticism of Israel. Let me be clear: it does no such thing. This definition is not about policing criticism of Israeli government policies—indeed, thoughtful debate about Israel’s actions, like the policies of any nation, is necessary and healthy. Indeed, as a Jewish leader I offer my critique whenever I feel necessary, explicitly as a part of my love for the Jewish enterprise.
Rather, the IHRA definition helps us distinguish between legitimate criticism and rhetoric that veers into antisemitism by holding Jews collectively responsible, denying Jewish peoplehood, or applying double standards that would not be imposed on any other nation. In fact, the IHRA definition explicitly states that “criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.”
Opponents further claim that adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism could have a chilling effect on free speech, but this too is a spurious argument. Rather than silencing speech, the IHRA definition ensures that antisemitic rhetoric is recognized and addressed, creating a safer environment for productive discussions.
Recognizing hate speech does not mean banning it; it simply ensures that institutions, educators, and policymakers can identify and combat discrimination effectively. Just as societies define and combat racism and other prejudices without suppressing free expression, adopting the IHRA definition ensures that antisemitism is treated with the same seriousness, without infringing on open debate.
New Jersey has long prided itself on being a leader in civil rights and social justice. With one of the largest Jewish populations in the country, our state should not lag behind in the fight against antisemitism. Adopting the IHRA definition is not just a symbolic act—it is a practical tool for educators, law enforcement, and policymakers to identify and combat discrimination in all its forms.
History has taught us that hatred left unchecked metastasizes. It is our moral duty to ensure that antisemitism is named, confronted, and eradicated wherever it appears. By adopting the IHRA definition, New Jersey would reaffirm its commitment to the dignity and safety of all its citizens.