The alarming rise of anti-Semitism around the world must be addressed by governments and members of civil society alike. Agreeing upon and working from a universal definition is critical in order to combat various forms of anti-Semitism across all layers of society. A common definition helps individuals and authorities recognize when and how anti-Semitism is perpetuated, form a basis for legal frameworks to hold perpetrators accountable, helps to change negative behaviors and standardize educational materials to halt the spread of anti-Semitism.

Age-old anti-Jewish conspiracies and tropes are being repackaged in light of the enormous social and political stresses of our time. The often-quoted three primary sources of anti-Semitism (the far-right, the radical left, and political Islam) are again expanding as new anti-Semitic trends continue to emerge, especially in light of the pandemic.

Our campaign’s pledge draws upon the IHRA international definition of anti-Semitism and its list of specific behaviors used to discriminate against the Jewish people and the Jewish State of Israel.

To guide IHRA in its work, the the inter-government organization developed a list of examples to highlight manifestations of contemporary anti-Semitism under the IHRA definition. Contemporary manifestations of anti-Semitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:

• Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
• Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.
• Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
• Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
• Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
• Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
• Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
• Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
• Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.
• Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
• Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.

Adopting the IHRA definition is a responsible first step for governments and organizations who wish to confront anti-Semitism in their jurisdictions and will allow for a more comprehensive worldwide response.

The IHRA definition has become the gold standard and the internationally recognized standard for defining anti-Semitic behavior. The definition has been embraced and championed by leaders across the ideological, political and religious spectrums. To date, it has also been adopted by other government bodies and organizations including the US Executive Branch,, The European Parliament, The Church of England, Organization of American States, Chelsea Football Club, the Global Imams Council and hundreds of other organizations and universities around the world. Major cities such as Paris, London, Vienna, Miami and other municipalities are standing up to Jew-hatred in their communities by adopting the IHRA definition too.

While more and more governments, institutions and organizations have begun to adopt the IHRA definition globally, the definition also serves as an important and powerful educational tool for teaching about, and ultimately preventing the hatred of Jewish people. The adoption of the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism is an important first step in defining, recognizing and ultimately combating anti-Semitism.
Comprehensive adoption of the IHRA definition in local, national, international jurisdictions, as well as in public and private institutions and settings will enable the world to more effectively confront anti-Semitic behavior wherever it may be found.

Learn More About the IHRA Definition By Watching The Video Below: