Antisemitism: What is it? How is it being Weaponized?
Definitions of Antisemitism:
At least two definitions/descriptions of antisemitism have been widely disseminated and debated. Here we will explore them both their use and misuse.
Noam Chomsky - Antisemitism vs. Anti-Zionism
IHRA ( International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance)
Summary: The IHRA “working definition” of antisemitism, first published by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia in 2005, was adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in 2016. Although it has been circulated widely and adopted in many places, it is a vague, poorly worded document, a threat to academic freedom, and a clumsy attempt to “weaponize” antisemitism to stifle criticism of Israel.
Jerusalem declaration
Summary: The Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, developed by scholars in the fields of Holocaust history, Jewish studies, and Middle East studies, highlights key manifestations of antisemitism while disentangling antisemitism from legitimate criticism of Israel. The Declaration may have flaws, including one problematic example, but it forcefully argues that supporting Palestinian demands for justice, criticizing or opposing Zionism, and criticizing or boycotting Israel are not inherently antisemitic.
Summary of IHRA/Jerusalem Declaration Comparison
The Jerusalem Declaration provides a strong rebuttal to the IHRA “definition.” The Declaration clearly states that, whether or not one agrees with these actions or views, supporting Palestinian demands for justice, criticizing or opposing Zionism, and criticizing or boycotting Israel are not inherently antisemitic. Moreover, views and actions don’t have to be “measured, proportional, tempered, or reasonable” in order to be permissible.
In the end, we think it’s reasonable, indeed necessary, to reject the poorly worded and misguided IHRA document. Supporting justice for Palestinians is not antisemitic. In fact, it follows from the traditional Jewish values of pursuing justice and loving the stranger, not to mention the basic human values of empathy and equality.
Articles & Resources about the IHRA
Appendix 2: Examples of the use of the IHRA definition to censor & penalize pro-Palestinian speech & activism https://diasporaalliance.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IHRA-Explainer-and-Messaging.pdf
Coalition of 104 civil society organizations, “Human Rights and other Civil Society Groups Urge United Nations to Respect Human Rights in the Fight Against Antisemitism,” a joint letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/04/04/human-rights-and-other-civil-society-groups-urge-united-nations-respect-human, 4/20/23.
The Center for Constitutional Rights and over a dozen other civil and human rights organizations, letter to the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR), “False Conflation of Criticism of Israel and Antisemitism Perpetuates Anti-Arab, Anti-Muslim, and Anti-Palestinian Discrimination,” “We reiterate the call for OCR to reject codifying the distorted International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, which conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism, into agency rules, policies, or decisions.”1/18/24,
https://ccrjustice.org/letter-civil-rights-groups-demand-doe-reject-ihra-definition-antisemitism
Joel Beinin, “Why I violated the IHRA definition of antisemitism: this thinly veiled attack on freedom of speech aims to curb any meaningful discussion of the Israel-Palestine conflict,” Middle East Eye, 4/24/25, https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/why-i-violated-ihra-definition-antisemitism
British legal experts, “Antisemitism definition is undermining free speech,” letter to the Guardian, 1/7/2021, https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jan/07/antisemitism-definition-is-undermining-free-speech
NRP Morning Edition, “Weaponizing antisemitism makes students 'less safe,' says drafter of definition,” 3/20/2025,
https://www.npr.org/2025/03/20/nx-s1-5326047/kenneth-stern-antimsietim-executive-order-free-speech
ACLU urges senate to oppose bill that will threaten political speech on college campuses
Articles & Resources about the Jerusalem Declaration
Describes limitations of the declaration:
https://jewishcurrents.org/the-jerusalem-declarations-fatal-flaw
Letter produced by a Maine State Resident in response to legislation to attempt to use IHRA:
https://legislature.maine.gov/testimony/resources/JUD20250407Cullum133884753470858837.pdf
Explains the improvements of Jerusalem Declaration over IHRA:
https://jewishcurrents.org/why-i-signed-the-jerusalem-declaration-on-antisemitism
An example of the Orwellian argument used to attempt discredit of the Jerusalem Declaration:
https://besacenter.org/the-jerusalem-declaration-on-antisemitism-is-itself-antisemitic/