European Jewish groups welcomed the publication of a handbook for the practical use of the Working Definition of Antisemitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) as a tool to fight against Jewish hatred in Europe.
“It is fundamentally important to give governments and security agencies the necessary guidelines to implement the IHRA definition so that it has practical use to physically protect Jewish communities from anti-Semitism,” European Jewish Congress president Dr. Moshe Kantor said in a statement. “We welcome the publication of this guide, at a time when anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and the targeting of Jews is spreading across our continent.”
The Working Definition of Antisemitism, adopted by the IHRA in 2016, is a comprehensive definition that describes the hatred in all its various forms, including both traditional and contemporary manifestations. It has since been adopted by 18 E.U. member states, along with other countries in Europe and around the world.
The handbook, published by the European Commission in cooperation with IHRA, illustrates good practices in the application of the definition and offers a checklist for its good use across different policy areas, including law enforcement, the judiciary and educational institutions.
“The importance of this handbook,” said Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, director of American Jewish Committee Europe, “is demonstrating how the working definition can be put to use to combat anti-Semitism. It is a necessary and valuable tool for all governments.”
