The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism remains the centerpiece of American policy in its efforts to counter Jewish hatred.
That evaluation was stressed June 1 in a follow-up virtual program by the Anti-Defamation League with Deborah Lipstadt, the state department special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism.
Holding up the 60-page U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism which involved more than two dozen U.S. agencies, she said, “If you can’t find anything to differ with or be critical of you haven’t read it closely … It takes a very forward thinking approach and I think that is something that I think is very encouraging to all of us.”
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt termed it “precedent setting,” but acknowledged there have been questions raised about it, particularly regarding the IHRA.
The recently unveiled plan of action cites the definition as the “most prominent” but also stated it “welcomes and appreciates” the alternate progressive Nexus Document, which includes language about Zionism and Israel.
“We believe it’s the only definition that works,” said Greenblatt of IHRA. “It is in this document. As I said I think it centers IHRA for the whole executive branch, but it alludes to the ‘quote, unquote’ Nexus document and other people wanted it to be stronger.”
IHRA isa non-legally binding resolution adopted by 31 member countries, including the U.S., stating that “antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews,” and cites several examples, including the “targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity.”
Lipstadt said the IHRA definition “is filled with nuance,” including eight different examples of what might be antisemitism, but also stated “they may or may not be depending on context.”
She said Secretary of State Antony Blinken has “embraced” the IHRA definition as has the State Department on numerous occasions.
“There is no question this has been American policy and it’s reaffirmed in the report,” said Lipstadt. “But the report says in addition, in a secondary position it notes the existence of other definitions and declarations. [It] doesn’t address them, doesn’t name them, doesn’t say they are valuable, but we have found the Nexus definition, if you read it closely, has some of the same nuance that the IHRA definition has and in certain places it even goes further than the IHRA definition.”
When the strategy was being prepared the definitions were studied closely and Lipstadt said she was asked if one contradicted the other. She replied by stating while there are definitions that combat and criticize IHRA, she believed IHRA and Nexus can “supplement each other.”
Greenblatt said acknowledging other definitions is “fine,” but “everyone should know the only definition embraced, the only definition centered, the only definition spelled out is IRHA.” He noted definitions are important but contextualized and stressed antisemitism comes from both the right and left, political extremists, religious fanatics “and other sorts of fruit loops.” In 2022, the number of antisemitic incidents rose to their highest level since the ADL began tracking anti-Jewish hatred in 1979, breaking the record set only the previous year. Antisemitic attitudes are at a 30-year high.
In response to numerous questions that came in from viewers questioning the involvement of the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) with the plan, Lipstadt said CAIR played no role or made any contribution to the strategy.
However, the White House reached out to a broad range of organizations, NGOs and people, including CAIR, after its completion who Lipstadt said may have had “less than stellar records on combating antisemitism and maybe even records of fostering antisemitism,” with the idea “this may be a good time to hold their feet to the fire and have them acknowledge where they have gone wrong in the past and have them address that and to see if there’s a change.”
Greenblatt said CAIR “has absolutely trafficked in antisemitism, anti-Zionism and said slanderous things about our organization and others but they just endorsed a plan that centers on IHRA in the middle of federal policy, so bravo CAIR. I hope you realize you did that and we’re proud you did that and hopefully you’re going to come around and, you know, join the rest of the world and dozens of governments and scores of cities and non-government organizations in recognizing anti-Zionism is antisemitism.”
The ADL had been collaborating and involved with formulating the plan since its inception.
Greenblatt complimented the strategy for incorporating almost the entire ADL plan for combating antisemitism, with virtually all 30 of its recommendations included. He called May 25, the day of the plan’s announcement, “one of the most consequential, meaningful days I’ve experienced as ADL CEO” and added of the strategy that it was “astonishing to absorb its breath and depth, its ambition, its scope, its specificity on all levels.”
He added, “I can assure you when you release something like this it can literally move mountains,” said Greenblatt. “Its impact is seismic … It is a powerful testament that this president, this government, they understand that there is no silver bullet to solve the problem of antisemitism, that it requires a whole of society approach … In fact this document elevates fighting antisemitism to a federal priority like combating climate change or addressing economic inequality, or raising the debt ceiling.”
Lipstadt downplayed fears of rising antisemitism here and in Europe and a repeat of the rise of Nazism of the 1930s, noting the European Union has also taken a stand against antisemitism and many countries, including Germany, have their own studies and plans. Others were waiting for the American study to model their own plans on and have appointed their own special envoys.
Also important to note, said Lipstadt, is that the American government now views antisemitism as a national security risk.
“Were it just a threat to Jews it would be a worthy thing for government to address,” she said, comparing the government’s primary job to protect its citizens, especially the vulnerable, to parents’ responsibility is to protect their children from harm.
“Antisemitism is a threat to democracy,” said Lipstadt and the plan demonstrates the American government is cognizant of that threat. “It’s the canary in the coal mine. If you are an antisemite you subscribe to the notion that Jews control the media, the banks, the judges, government … that the Jews are behind the scenes conniving, controlling, making sure things run to fulfill their own needs at the expense of everyone else. So if you subscribe to that notion you don’t believe democracy is real. You don’t believe government is responding to your needs. So you’ve lost faith in your government.”
Lipstadt also said the plan also recognizes that fighting hatred and prejudice against Jews means fighting hatred against all marginalized groups. She was moved that after the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburg, where 11 worshippers were killed at a Shabbat service, people of all races, political affiliations, religions and ethnicities came out to support Pittsburgh’s Jewish community “because you have been there for us, we will be there for you.”
For its part, the ADL made commitments to organize cross-community sessions across the country under the aegis of the White House with groups representing other targeted groups such as Blacks, Asian-Americans, Latinos and the LGBTQ community. Antisemitism “is everyone’s problem,” said Greenblatt, and “in turn we want non-Jewish allies to stand with us.”
It will also work with the government to ensure major corporations and universities have diversity equity and inclusion policies that include antisemitism and help with policy development to combat hate online on gaming sites and social media and with the newest threat, artificial intelligence-generated antisemitism.
Debra Rubin has had a long career in journalism writing for secular weekly and daily newspapers and Jewish publications. She most recently served as Middlesex/Monmouth bureau chief for the New Jersey Jewish News. She also worked with the media at several nonprofits, including serving as assistant public relations director of HIAS and assistant director of media relations at Yeshiva University.
