April 26, 2024
WASHINGTON — The Nexus Leadership Project opposes the Antisemitism Awareness Act and urges Congress to instead move forward with the bipartisan and bicameral Countering Antisemitism Act, introduced by Senators Rosen and Lankford and Representatives Manning and Smith.
Jonathan Jacoby, national director of the Nexus Leadership Project, issued the following statement:
“The Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2024 is the wrong solution to an urgent problem that requires real action, not political maneuvering. The right solution is to enact the bipartisan bicameral Countering Antisemitism Act, introduced by Senators Rosen and Lankford and Representatives Manning and Smith.
“While the goal of increasing awareness and understanding of antisemitism is laudable, this legislation needlessly reopens an ideological debate on definitions that pits Jews and other communities against each other at a time when serious action is needed. Instead of confronting and marginalizing antisemitism with real steps that everyone agrees are urgently needed, this bill disrupts consensus and momentum behind action that can make a difference. We cannot afford this political distraction at a time when every minute counts in the fight for Jewish safety, including on college campuses.
“The sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across the United States is alarming and merits a robust whole society response. However, we must be wary of measures that do more to fuel political debates than to stop actual antisemitic incidents.
“Instead of focusing on formalizing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) ‘working definition’ of antisemitism or any other singular definition, Congress should implement the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism released in 2023 and bipartisan bills like the bipartisan bicameral Countering Antisemitism Act. Our Jewish communities deserve robust protections and an unwavering commitment to countering the disturbing rise in antisemitism.”
The Antisemitism Awareness Act centers around the IHRA ‘working definition’ of antisemitism, which could ultimately do more harm than good. However, as outlined in IHRA’s own documentation, this definition was intended to be non-legally binding guidance for education and training purposes only. Definitions like IHRA can serve as valuable references, but context is vital when examining potential instances of antisemitism. Tools like IHRA and the Nexus Document are effective because they can use case studies and deeper guidance on interpreting indicators on a case-by-case basis – using definitions properly. In contrast, attempting to legislate or codify such definitions risks their being applied too broadly in a manner that infringes on constitutionally protected rights.
The U.S. National Strategy is a comprehensive approach developed through extensive input from over 1,000 stakeholders. It emphasizes concrete actions to enhance safety, build societal unity, and prevent the normalization of antisemitism through education and community engagement initiatives. The strategy provides a fulsome definition that aligns with Title VI protections against religious discrimination already enshrined in federal law.
