Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, signed an executive order at Tribeca Synagogue in Lower Manhattan on Sunday recognizing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)’s working definition of Jew-hatred on behalf of the city.
“The City of New York recognizes, and city agencies shall consider as appropriate, the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, as adopted on May 26, 2016, as well as the 11 contemporary examples,” per the order.
“City agencies are encouraged to use these materials as appropriate to facilitate constructive discourse, further understanding and enable a more thoughtful response to harmful antisemitic behavior,” it adds.
The contemporary examples that are part of the working definition include “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” and “holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the State of Israel.”
Adams signed the order alongside Phil McGraw (“Dr. Phil”). The two had a conversation at the synagogue, which will air on June 17 on the “Dr. Phil Primetime” show.
“Antisemitism is a vile disease that’s been spreading across our nation and our city,” the mayor stated. “What’s worse, since Hamas’s terror attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, we have seen this hateful rhetoric become normalized on our campuses, in our communities and online as antisemitic propaganda far too often masquerades as ‘activism.’”
“When Jewish New Yorkers make up 11% of the population but more than half of all hate crimes, we know this moment demands bold, decisive action to crack down on anti-Jewish hatred,” the mayor stated.
He called the executive order a “landmark” move to “adopt an internationally recognized definition of antisemitism.”
“But we must go further,” he said. “I am calling on the City Council to join this commitment to target antisemitism everywhere it exists and immediately pass a bill to codify this definition into law. It’s time we all come together to eradicate this hatred from our city, once and for all.”
“We will no longer tolerate denying the Jewish community the right to self-determination, using code words to demean Jewish New Yorkers, or targeting our community while claiming to target Zionists,” stated Moshe Davis, executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism. “We’ve seen the violence this breeds. Antisemitism has no place in our schools, our government or our city.”
Yehuda Kaploun, a rabbi and U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, welcomed the “important step by New York City.”
“It is crucial for all cities, states and countries to adopt these policies and build on the requirements outlined in IHRA’s language,” he stated. “Antisemitism must be a bipartisan issue and condemned by all people.”
“Antisemitic incidents on U.S. soil are at unprecedented levels—the highest in our lifetime,” stated Kenneth L. Marcus, founder and chairman of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and a former U.S. assistant secretary of education for civil rights.
“We strongly commend Mayor Eric Adams for his leadership and for incorporating the IHRA definition of antisemitism into his new executive order,” Marcus stated. “This frightening trend, which is getting more and more violent by the day, demands urgent and decisive action, starting with our government leaders.”
“IHRA provides a clear framework for law enforcement, educators and all local officials to properly identify and address antisemitism in all its forms,” he added. “Mayor Adams’ example should be followed nationwide. Every city and state must follow Mayor Adams’ lead to confront this ugly and dangerous resurgence in Jew-hatred.”
