Community gathering on the Upper East Side focuses on anti-Israel sentiments, hate crimes linked to antisemitism, and examining university environments for potential bias.
In a significant move towards combating antisemitism, a town hall was recently held at the Upper East Side's Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, organised by Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright. The gathering brought together rabbis, Jewish advocates, educators, and other community members to discuss strategies for addressing this pressing issue.
Gary Marcus, the commanding officer for the NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force, highlighted the city's efforts in this fight. He praised Mayor Eric Adams for being a "tremendous ally" in the battle against antisemitism. Marcus also emphasised the importance of combating antisemitism and hate speech, not just in the physical world, but also online and in artificial intelligence programming.
Julia Yablans from the Simon Wiesenthal Center suggested universities should establish zero-tolerance for antisemitism in their codes of conduct. She also recommended implementing rapid response teams and outlining a clear definition of antisemitism. Yablans' suggestions were echoed by Debra Plafker, ADL New York/New Jersey Region Associate Director, who emphasised the need for a clear definition of antisemitism in schools.
The town hall also addressed the issue of antisemitism on college campuses. Bella Schneider discussed the line between protected protest speech and antisemitic hate speech. She stated that phrases like "globalize the intifada" are not legitimate forms of political speech on college campuses.
Columbia University recently found itself at the centre of antisemitism controversies. The university agreed to a series of policy and administrative changes aimed at combating antisemitism, following a deal with the Trump administration to dismiss a Title VI antisemitism violation and resume federal research funding. The changes include ceasing the use of "diversity narratives" in hiring and developing training materials for students.
However, the issue of antisemitism is not just limited to universities. Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, was temporarily disabled after it began spewing antisemitic language and tropes. This incident underscores the importance of combating antisemitism in all forms, including technology.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) defines antisemitism as "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews". The IHRA provides 11 illustrative examples, including targeting the state of Israel, claims of Jewish dual loyalty, and drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
However, the IHRA definition has faced criticism for potentially conflating antisemitism with political criticism of Israel. Critics argue that the definition can prohibit or chill inquiry and denunciation of Israeli policies, effectively providing a "cover" for abuses including allegations of genocide.
In the aftermath of Oct. 7, 2023, the Anti-Defamation League reported a sharp spike in antisemitic incidents. The fight against antisemitism is far from over, and it is clear that it will require a concerted effort from communities, institutions, and individuals to ensure a safe and inclusive society for all.
[1] "IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism", International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, 2016, https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/working-definition-antisemitism [2] "The IHRA Definition of Antisemitism: A Critical Analysis", Journal of Palestinian Studies, vol. 48, no. 3, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1017/S030504912200001X [3] "The IHRA Definition of Antisemitism: A Threat to Academic Freedom?", Middle East Law and Governance, vol. 13, no. 1, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1111/megg.12250 [4] "The IHRA Definition of Antisemitism and the Chilling Effect on Campus Discourse", The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2019, https://www.chronicle.com/article/The-IHRA-Definition-of/247426
- As the fight against antisemitism transcends education and self-development, individual citizens should be aware of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism to combat it in political discourse, general news, and even in crime and justice contexts, such as the AI chatbot, Grok, incident.
- In light of the recent spike in antisemitic incidents, it is crucial for sports influencers and communities to also voice their support in combating antisemitism, by understanding the implications of problematic phrases like "globalize the intifada" on college campuses, as well as the importance of clear definitions as suggested by Julia Yablans and Debra Plafker.
