In direct response to what's being called a "historic rise in antisemitic incidents," New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued an executive order adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, a move aimed at combating hatred and violence against the Jewish community. The order empowers city agencies to better identify and confront incidents of antisemitism, drawing on the IHRA's specific examples of how antisemitism can manifest in everyday life. Mayor Adams also introduced related legislation to the City Council, hoping for a broader and long-term commitment to fighting anti-Jewish sentiment, as per the news release from the Mayor's Office.
Amidst increasing concerns about antisemitic rhetoric and attacks, the executive order and the proposed legislation represent a commitment from city leadership to safeguard over 11 percent of NYC's population that identifies as Jewish. According to the Mayor's Office, these measures follow on the heels of NYPD reports indicating that 57 percent of all hate crimes in the city targeted Jewish New Yorkers. Mayor Adams called antisemitism a "vile disease" and emphasized the importance of clearly defining it to tackle it effectively.
The newly signed executive order also coincides with the establishment of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, a first-of-its-kind initiative in a major U.S. city dedicated to fighting antisemitism through various strategies, including inter-agency collaboration and legal actions. The office will play a crucial role in addressing and preventing hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers and fostering an environment of safety and respect. "Antisemitism has no place in our schools, our government, or our city," stated Moshe Davis, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, as reported by the Mayor's Office.
Support for Mayor Adams' actions has been widespread among Jewish advocacy and civil rights organizations. The ADL New York/New Jersey heralded the city's adoption of the IHRA working definition as an essential tool to comprehend and identify the complex expressions of antisemitism today. Meanwhile, leaders such as Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, nominee for U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, expressed their approval, highlighting the bipartisan need to adopt such policies to effectively counteract antisemitism.
This move by Mayor Adams echoes the sentiments and concerns of numerous Jewish communities and their allies, who have been clamoring for a more definitive and actionable approach towards antisemitism. The adoption of the IHRA definition by New York City sends a strong message, as stated by Sacha Roytman, Chief Executive Officer of Combat Antisemitism Movement, "When New York City acts, the rest of the world follows," as mentioned by the Mayor's Office.
