{"id":37166,"date":"2025-06-10T15:59:22","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T15:59:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/?p=37166"},"modified":"2025-06-10T15:59:22","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T15:59:22","slug":"mayor-adams-signs-executive-order-and-proposes-legislation-to-codify-into-law-international-holocaust-remembrance-alliance-definition-of-antisemitism-addressing-historic-rise-in-anti-jewish-hatred","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/archives\/37166","title":{"rendered":"Mayor Adams signs executive order and proposes legislation to codify into law international holocaust remembrance alliance definition of antisemitism, addressing historic rise in anti-Jewish hatred"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed a historic executive order to recognize the international Holocaust remembrance alliance\u2019s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism to facilitate constructive discourse, further understanding, and enable a thoughtful response to anti-Semitic hate in New York City.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amidst a historic rise in anti-Semitic incidents across the five boroughs and the rest of the nation, Mayor Adams is taking an ambitious stance against acts of hatred and violence against New York\u2019s vibrant and diverse Jewish community, totaling approximately 960,000, or more than 11 percent of the city\u2019s population.<\/p>\n

This order directs agencies to use this working definition to identify and address incidents of antisemitism across the city, as well as to raise awareness of this crisis. As a part of this announcement, Mayor Adams introduced legislation to the City Council, calling on them to match this commitment by codifying this definition in new legislation.<\/p>\n

\u201cAntisemitism is a vile disease that\u2019s been spreading across our nation and our city. What\u2019s worse, since Hamas\u2019 terror attacks on October 7, 2023, we have seen this hateful rhetoric become normalized on our campuses, in our communities, and online as anti-Semitic propaganda far too often masquerades as \u2018activism.\u2019 When Jewish New Yorkers make up 11 percent 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,\u201d said\u00a0<\/strong>Mayor Adams.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cToday, we signed a landmark executive order to adopt an internationally recognized definition of antisemitism, but we must go further. 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\u2019s time we all come together to eradicate this hatred from our city, once and for all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the world, we have zero-tolerance for antisemitism and discrimination of any kind,\u201d said\u00a0<\/strong>First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith today\u2019s executive order adopting the internationally-recognized definition of antisemitism, Mayor Adams has taken bold action to address an endemic problem in our city, country,\u202fand world. And we know we had to act because more than half of all hate crimes in our city today are committed against Jewish New Yorkers. \u202fTo combat antisemitism, we have to have a common understanding of what it is \u2014 now we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRecognizing the IHRA definition of antisemitism is critical to confront hate and understand the pervasiveness of antisemitism,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0<\/strong>Mayor\u2019s Office to Combat Antisemitism Executive Director Moshe Davis.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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; we\u2019ve seen the violence this breeds. Antisemitism has no place in our schools, our government, or our city.\u201d<\/p>\n

This\u00a0working definition\u00a0was first adopted by the IHRA\u2019s 31 member states, of which the United States is a member, in May 2016.<\/p>\n

This definition outlines specific, contemporary examples\u00a0of antisemitism to illustrate how this form of hatred appears in daily life, such as \u201caccusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust,\u201d \u201cdenying the Jewish people their right to self-determination e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor,\u201d and \u201cholding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

This non-legally binding working definition has been recognized by the\u00a0U.S Department of State\u00a0U.S. Department of Education, 35 states, the District of Columbia, and over 80 other localities.<\/p>\n

Last month, Mayor Adams established the\u00a0Mayor\u2019office to combat antisemitism, the first office of its kind established in a major city across the nation.<\/p>\n

Flanked by dozens of leading Jewish advocates, the mayor announced this new effort, which is establishing an inter-agency taskforce dedicated to fighting antisemitism in all its forms, including by monitoring court cases and outcomes at all levels of the justice system,\u202fliaising with the New York City Law Department on appropriate cases to bring or join, advising on executive orders to issue and legislation to propose to address antisemitism, and working across agencies to ensure New Yorkers feel protected against antisemitism and address incidents of antisemitism, among taking other actions. The office will also work to combat antisemitism at city-funded entities and city agencies.<\/p>\n

The executive order follows a historic rise in violence against Jewish New Yorkers. Last year, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) reported that 54 percent of all hate crimes in New York City were against Jewish New Yorkers. As of the most recent data from 2025, that number rose to 57 percent. The anti-defamation league recently reported a record number of anti-Semitic incidents in 2024 across the country, including the highest number in New York state.<\/p>\n

These new efforts build on Mayor Adams\u2019 strong record of taking action to protect Jewish New Yorkers, including by directing the NYPD to take action against hate crimes and violence that threaten New Yorkers; establishing the city\u2019s first\u00a0\u201cbreaking bread, building bonds\u201d\u00a0initiative to broaden connections amongst communities of every faith, class, and creed; and establishing the city\u2019s first\u202fJewish Advisory Council to ensure Jewish communities across New York City are connected with all of the city\u2019s resources and services available.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy adopting the critically important IHRA definition of antisemitism, Mayor Adams is taking an important step in confronting the appalling rise in Jew-hatred that is plaguing our country,\u201d said\u00a0Elan Carr, chief executive officer, Israeli-American Council (IAC) and former U.S special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism.<\/p>\n

\u201cNew York is home to America\u2019s largest Jewish community, and we are continually grateful to Mayor Adams for his friendship and commitment to justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the president\u2019s nominee to combat global antisemitism, I welcome this important step by New York City,\u201d said\u00a0Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun,\u00a0nominee for U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cIt is crucial for all cities, states, and countries to adopt these\u202fpolicies and build on the requirements outlined in IHRA\u2019s language. Antisemitism must be a bipartisan issue and condemned by all people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSince Hamas\u2019s October 7th attack on Israel, there has been a dramatic increase in antisemitism \u2013 on college campuses, on the streets of New York City, in board rooms, on social media,\u201d said\u00a0Stephanie Hauser, chief operating officer, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.\u00a0\u201cIn recent weeks, we have seen how this hate has manifested itself into deadly attacks.<\/p>\n

To address the problem of antisemitism, there must be clarity about what constitutes antisemitism. We thank Mayor Adams for his Executive Order, which adopts the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, joining 37 states and over 40 countries in doing so. This is an important step to show that NYC, the largest city in the country, has no tolerance for antisemitism.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStandWithUs congratulates Mayor Adams for adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Avi Posnick, executive director, StandWithUs Northeast & New England.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe definition is a gold standard tool for identifying how modern-day antisemitism manifests, and its adoption will only empower more people to call out antisemitism as it surges nationwide. Like all groups, Jews must be the ones who define their own experiences with oppression, and this definition, through its examples, allows for exactly that. At a time of rising antisemitism here in NYC and across the country, in our schools and in greater society, NYC is now taking a critical step to dealing with the world’s oldest virus \u2013 by defining antisemitism to defeat it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnti-Defamation League New York\/New Jersey applauds New York City’s adoption of the\u202fIHRA\u202fWorking Definition\u202fof Antisemitism,\u201d said\u00a0Scott Richman, regional director, ADL New York and New Jersey.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an important tool to identify and understand the complex ways in which antisemitism can manifest today.\u202fWe look forward to continuing to partner with Moshe Davis and the Mayor\u2019s Office to Combat Antisemitism\u202fin their efforts to fight antisemitism and to support the Jewish community in New York City.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn recent years, antisemitism has taken on new and troubling forms, fueled by age-old prejudices and by modern political motivations. This has created an urgent need for a clear and consistent definition that can guide both governmental policy and law enforcement. The IHRA Working Definition provides just that, offering a comprehensive and flexible framework to identify antisemitism, including incidents targeting Jews in connection with Israel,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Josh Kramer, director, American Jewish Committee (AJC) New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy adopting this definition, New York City joins a growing number of governments and institutions committed to fighting antisemitism and safeguarding Jewish communities. With approximately one in ten New York residents being Jewish, and with the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, it is vital that we maintain an environment where all communities are treated with dignity and respect. Adopting the IHRA definition is an important tool to ensuring New York remains a safe and inclusive place for all its residents, including the Jewish community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith antisemitism surging across our city and country, we applaud the mayor for his leadership in adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance\u2019s definition of antisemitism \u2013 an essential step in confronting anti-Jewish hate,\u201d said\u00a0Eric Goldstein, chief executive officer, United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet us be clear and speak with one voice: Antisemitism in any of its destructive manifestation has no place in our city.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSince October 7th, Jewish New Yorkers \u2014 regardless of our connection to Israel \u2014 have been relentlessly pressured to renounce Zionism and the very idea of Jewish self-determination, treated as suspect or unwelcome when we refuse. At a time when eliminationist rhetoric like \u2018globalize the intifada\u2019 is shouted in our streets and on our campuses, we are told that our safety must be sacrificed on the altar of someone else\u2019s version of free speech and human rights. These are false choices \u2014 ones that no other community is asked to make. And holding Jews to these exceptional standards is plainly anti-Semitic. That\u2019s why this Executive Order \u2014 recognizing the IHRA working definition of antisemitism \u2014 is so important,\u201d said Mark Treyger, chief executive officer, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe IHRA definition, which has strong bipartisan and international support, will assist New York City agencies by better equipping them with tools to recognize, respond to, and prevent antisemitism with the clarity and seriousness it demands. The government of New York City cannot protect Jewish people if it cannot define the hate we face. I thank Mayor Adams for taking this urgent and necessary step to confront antisemitism and protect the rights and safety of Jewish New Yorkers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen New York City acts, the rest of the world follows,\u201d said\u00a0Sacha Roytman, chief executive officer, Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).<\/p>\n

\u201cAdopting and implementing the IHRA definition is one of the most practical and effective steps municipal authorities can take to address rising antisemitism and protect Jewish communities. We are deeply grateful to Mayor Adams for this latest act of exemplary leadership on his part in the city-level fight against Jew-hatred.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAntisemitic incidents on U.S. soil are at unprecedented levels\u2014the highest in our lifetime,\u201d said\u00a0Kenneth Marcus, former U.S. assistant secretary of education for civil rights.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe strongly commend Mayor Eric Adams for his leadership and for incorporating the IHRA definition of antisemitism into his new Executive Order.\u00a0This 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 anti-Semitism in all its forms. Mayor Adams\u2019 example should be followed nationwide. Every city and state must follow Mayor Adams’ lead to confront this ugly and dangerous resurgence in Jew-hatred.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed a historic executive order to recognize the international Holocaust remembrance alliance\u2019s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism to facilitate constructive discourse, further understanding, and enable a thoughtful response to anti-Semitic hate in New York City. Amidst a historic rise in anti-Semitic incidents across the five boroughs and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":37163,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1469,31,1378],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-york","category-news","category-us"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37166"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37166\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37167,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37166\/revisions\/37167"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}