Antisemitism is a term that has unfortunately persisted throughout history, and understanding its definition is crucial in combating it. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), of which the United States is a member, adopted a working definition of antisemitism in 2016. This definition, building upon earlier definitions like the one used by the U.S. Department of State since 2010, serves as a guide for identifying and addressing antisemitism in its various forms.
The IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism
Adopted on May 26, 2016, in Bucharest, the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism is non-legally binding but widely recognized and used internationally. It states:
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
This definition highlights that antisemitism is not merely prejudice or discrimination, but a specific form of hostility directed at Jews. It can manifest in words, actions, and even in systemic ways. It’s important to note that this hatred can target both Jewish people and non-Jewish individuals or properties because of their association with Jewish people or institutions.
Manifestations of Antisemitism: Examples for Guidance
To further clarify the definition and provide practical guidance, the IHRA provides a series of examples that can serve as illustrations of antisemitism. These examples are not exhaustive but offer a framework for recognizing antisemitic behavior in contemporary life. It’s crucial to consider the overall context when evaluating whether a particular act or statement is antisemitic. Criticism of Israel, similar to criticism directed at any other country, is not inherently antisemitic. However, when criticism of Israel crosses certain lines, it can become antisemitic.
Here are some contemporary examples of antisemitism as outlined by the IHRA, which can occur in public life, media, schools, workplaces, and religious spheres:
- Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews: This includes using radical ideologies or extremist religious views to rationalize violence against Jewish people. Such actions move beyond mere prejudice into incitement and direct threats.
- Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews: This encompasses spreading false and malicious claims about Jewish people as a collective, or about the perceived power of Jews. A classic example is the myth of a global Jewish conspiracy controlling media, finance, or governments. These stereotypes are designed to incite hatred and fear.
- Accusing Jews of collective responsibility for actions of individuals: Holding all Jewish people accountable for the real or imagined wrongdoings of a single Jew or group, or even for actions by non-Jews, is a form of antisemitism. This ignores individual agency and unfairly burdens an entire group.
- Holocaust Denial and Distortion: Denying the historical reality, scope, mechanisms (like gas chambers), or intentionality of the Holocaust – the genocide of Jews by Nazi Germany – is a significant form of antisemitism. This also includes attempts to minimize or distort the Holocaust.
- Accusing Jews of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust: Claims that Jewish people fabricated or inflated the Holocaust for their own gain are antisemitic. This demonstrates a deep-seated hostility and disrespect for historical truth and the suffering of victims.
- Dual Loyalty Accusations: Falsely accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel or to a supposed global Jewish agenda than to their own countries is antisemitic. This undermines their citizenship and implies they are untrustworthy due to their Jewish identity.
- Denying the Jewish People’s Right to Self-Determination: Challenging the Jewish people’s right to have a state, for example, by labeling the existence of Israel as inherently racist, is considered antisemitic. This denies a fundamental right afforded to other peoples and nations.
- Applying Double Standards to Israel: Demanding behaviors from Israel that are not expected or required of any other democratic nation is a form of antisemitism. This unequal treatment singles out Israel unfairly and often stems from underlying biases.
- Using Antisemitic Tropes to Characterize Israel or Israelis: Employing symbols and imagery associated with classic antisemitism, such as accusations of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel, to depict Israel or Israelis is antisemitic. These are historically rooted in anti-Jewish hatred and are repurposed to target Israel.
- Drawing Comparisons Between Israeli Policy and Nazi Actions: Equating contemporary Israeli policies to those of Nazi Germany is antisemitic. This trivializes the Holocaust and demonizes Israel in a way that often crosses into antisemitic territory.
- Holding Jews Collectively Responsible for Actions of Israel: Blaming Jewish people worldwide for the actions of the state of Israel is antisemitic. This conflates Jewish identity with Israeli government policy and holds individuals accountable for actions they are not responsible for.
Antisemitic Acts: Criminality and Discrimination
It’s important to distinguish between different categories of antisemitic acts. The IHRA definition clarifies several key distinctions:
- Criminal Antisemitic Acts: Some antisemitic acts are explicitly defined as crimes under law in various countries. Examples include Holocaust denial in certain nations or the distribution of antisemitic propaganda.
- Antisemitic Criminal Acts: Criminal acts can also be classified as antisemitic when the victims or targets – whether individuals or properties like synagogues, Jewish schools, or cemeteries – are selected specifically because they are Jewish or perceived to be Jewish. The motivation behind the crime is key to its classification as antisemitic.
- Antisemitic Discrimination: Denying Jewish people opportunities or services that are available to others is antisemitic discrimination. This is illegal in many countries and reflects systemic prejudice that limits Jewish participation in society.
Understanding what constitutes antisemitism, as defined by the IHRA and illustrated by these examples, is a vital step in recognizing and combating this form of hatred. By learning to identify antisemitism in its various manifestations, individuals, communities, and institutions can work towards creating a more tolerant and just world for everyone.
