Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a law this week a “written policy prohibiting the teaching of anti-Semitic concepts” in schools. It also authorizes schools to utilize the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism in case of alleged anti-Semitism by students.
With the acceptance of HB 2673, Tennessee becomes the fifth state to legislate the official definition of Jew-hatred.
“As the fifth state to enact legislation using the IHRA definition, Tennessee’s bill sets a standard for other states to follow as they combat anti-Semitism and confront the delegitimization of the State of Israel in the process,” said Israeli-American Coalition for Action chairman Shawn Evenhaim. “We are grateful to see that Jewish and Israeli-Americans are not left to contend with incidents of anti-Semitic hatred alone.”
To date, 22 states have issued proclamations and resolutions supporting the IHRA definition. Only five states—Florida, Iowa, South Carolina, Arizona, and now, Tennessee—have codified it into law.
