Missouri Adopts IHRA Antisemitism Definition

Missouri adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism this week while at the same time recognizing September as Jewish American Heritage Month. The month was chosen to coincide with the High Holiday season.

“Missouri’s own Harry S. Truman was the first world leader to officially recognize Israel as a legitimate Jewish state, and we continue our proud support for members of the Jewish faith today,” Missouri’s Gov. Mike Parson said at a Sept. 19 gathering in Jefferson City, Mo., to announce two new initiatives.

Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe added that “during Jewish American Heritage Month, we celebrate our state’s strong support for Israel and those of the Jewish faith. We also reaffirm Missouri’s commitment to rejecting antisemitism and discrimination toward the Jewish community.”

Missouri state officials and the Missouri Chapter of the Coalition for Jewish Values also attended the event.

“We also want to take this opportunity to unequivocally reject antisemitism towards Jewish people and bigotry of any kind. Today and every day, we say hate and discrimination have no home in Missouri,” Parson said.

US House Overwhelmingly Passes Resolution Supporting Israel, Denouncing Antisemitism

The House of Representatives approved a resolution on Tuesday that expressed support for Israel and denounced antisemitism. The resolution was prompted by recent remarks from Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington) that sparked controversy and exposed divisions among Democrats regarding Israel-Palestine relations.

The symbolic measure, endorsed by a vote of 412-9, with 195 Democrats joining the Republicans in voting yes, affirms that Israel "is not a racist or apartheid state" and rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia. It also declares unwavering support and partnership between the United States and Israel.

Among the nine Democrats who voted against the resolution were representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman, Summer Lee, Ilhan Omar, Cori Bush, Andre Carson, Delia Ramirez, and Ayanna Pressley.

The dissenting votes came primarily from liberal Democrats, many of whom are members of the progressive "Squad" and have been highly critical of Israel's treatment of Palestinians, particularly under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Although Jayapal is known for her criticism of Netanyahu's government, her recent comment characterizing Israel as a "racist state" drew widespread condemnation from members of both parties.

"I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist," Jayapal said in a statement.

"I do, however, believe that (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving that policy within the leadership of the current government," she added.

She subsequently issued a clarification and an apology, but Republicans remained unsatisfied, leading to the expedited vote.

The timing of the vote was strategic, as it preceded to visit of President Isaac Herzog to Congress on Wednesday. Several progressive lawmakers, including some who voted against the resolution, announced their boycott of Herzog's speech.

Republican sponsors of the resolution emphasized the importance of a unified message supporting Israel and condemning hateful rhetoric. 

Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) stated, "We look at Israel as the most important partner in the Middle East. It's critical for the US Congress to send a unified message that we stand with Israel and that we unequivocally support our Jewish communities. There is a place for hate, for hateful words."

The resolution vote highlighted the ongoing struggle within the Democratic Party regarding Israel. While some Democrats criticized the measure for including the term "apartheid state," others defended their right to criticize Israeli government policies without denying the country's right to exist.

Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, passionately argued that Israel is an apartheid state, citing non-governmental organizations' assessments and quotes from Israeli government officials targeting Palestinians. Tlaib and other liberals who share her views opted to skip Herzog's speech.

Republicans seized the opportunity to portray the Democratic opposition to the resolution as anti-Israel. However, Democrats argued that criticizing a government's policies should not be equated with rejecting its right to sovereignty.

Rep. Jerold Nadler (D-New York) distinguished between criticizing Israel's conduct and questioning its existence, stating, "There is a difference between criticizing the right of Israel to exist, which is beyond the pale, and criticizing the conduct of the Israeli government, which I think is horrible."

The resolution vote occurred against the backdrop of Republican controversies involving race and ethnicity, as some lawmakers made racially charged remarks. GOP leaders face criticism for providing a platform for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been accused of antisemitism. 

Republicans condemned antisemitism while also grappling with accusations against one of their own. 

The highly visible vote came in the aftermath of Jayapal's comments at a progressive conference, where she referred to Israel as a "racist state" amid disruptions by Palestinian protesters.

Jayapal's subsequent statement clarified her position and offered an apology but failed to satisfy critics within her own party. Democratic leadership issued a joint statement pushing back on her comments, asserting that "Israel is not a racist state."

This recent resolution echoes past efforts by the House to address antisemitism. In 2019, a resolution condemning various forms of bigotry, including antisemitism, was passed with overwhelming support. 

In February, House Republicans voted to remove Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee following her controversial remarks on Israel. The vote was approved along party lines, 218-211.

Republicans argued that Omar should be removed for past comments against Israel and the use of antisemitic tropes.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy defended the decision to remove Omar from the powerful committee. Speaking to the media after the vote, he said her past statements "make it clear she is unfit to represent the US on the House Foreign Affairs Committee."

"She repeatedly used antisemitic tropes," and "compared America and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban," he said.

"She said Americans only like Israel because it's all about the Benjamins," McCarthy said. "And three years later, she said, 'I didn't know there's a trope when it comes to referring to someone who's Jewish with money.' What does that say to other people around the world? We were right in our action, and she can serve on other committees."

Omar said regardless of the vote's outcome, she was "here to stay."

"My leadership and voice will not be diminished if I am not on this committee for one term," she said in a speech. "My voice will get louder and stronger, and my leadership will be celebrated around the world as it has been."

"This debate today, it's about who gets to be an American," Omar said. "What opinions do we have to have to be counted as Americans? This is what this debate is about."

New Hampshire Governor Signs an Executive Order Banning BDS

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) on Thursday signed an order banning executive branch agencies from doing business with companies engaged in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.

The move makes New Hampshire the 37th state to enact anti-BDS orders or legislation.

“NH will not tolerate antisemitism, & we are taking significant steps at the state level to prohibit discriminatory boycotts of Israel in state procurement and investments,” Sununu wrote on Twitter.

The order also adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism as an “essential definitional tool” in identifying antisemitism.

Thursday’s order was in part a response to the UN Commission of Inquiry on Israel’s latest report, issued on 8 June, that accused Israel of war crimes and found that Israel’s “silencing” of Palestinian civil society voices was “intrinsically linked to the goal of ensuring and enshrining the permanent occupation at the expense of the rights of the Palestinian people.” In June, the US led 27 other states at the UN Human Rights Council in condemning the commission as biased and open-ended.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Concord, New Hampshire, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said that Gov. Sununu’s order is part of an “economic Iron Dome” defending Israel from the BDS movement.

“As Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, I came to understand the evil that was hiding behind the mask of the BDS organizations,” Erdan said. “As Minister, I published and exposed the connection between BDS leaders and convicted terrorists, and I also exposed the antisemitic ideologies of these organizations. Not only does BDS spread Jew hatred, it is also funded by terror groups.”

Erdan also thanked Sununu for forcefully responding to the Commission of Inquiry, whose latest report accused states that have adopted anti-BDS legislation of “silenc[ing] human rights defenders.”

“New Hampshire’s support for Israel today is the perfect response to this antisemitic UN commission,” Erdan said. “We must boycott our boycotters and delegitimize our delegitimizers!”

The co-chair of the progressive caucus of the New Hampshire of House of Representatives, Rep. Alissandra Murray (D), condemned the order on Thursday as condoning “violence” after a similar legislative measure, HB339, failed to pass committee.

“HB 339 was [deemed ‘inexpedient to legislate’] in committee and never even got a vote on the floor, so the tyrant Sununu decided to issue a politically-motivated executive order that condones violence and violates free speech,” Murray said.

Supporters of the BDS movement contend that boycotts are protected speech under the First Amendment, a view that the US Supreme Court has largely rejected.

Responding to an invitation from Israel’s Consul General in New England for Sununu to visit Israel, the Granite State governor joked about his announcement in June that he would not be running for the US Presidency.

“As of a month ago, my schedule has opened up,” Sununu said. 

Australia Announces Plans to Ban Nazi Symbols

The Attorney-General of Australia, Mark Dreyfus, on Thursday announced that the Australian government will introduce legislation banning the Nazi Swastika and Schutzstaffel (SS) symbols from public display and sale. The law will be introduced in the Australian Parliament next week and imposes up to 12 months in prison for those who display or sell the hate symbols.

Speaking at a press conference in Melbourne on Thursday, Dreyfus cited the rise in neo-Nazi activity as the impetus behind the bill.

“Over the past year, just meters from here in Melbourne, we’ve seen the appalling and disturbing display of hatred, Nazi flags and symbols displayed on the streets of our city,” Dreyfus said. “I find it almost unthinkable that this legislation is even necessary. Thousands of Australians fought and died to defeat this evil and thousands more found refuge in our country from the evils of the Holocaust. But we do need to act and we do need to make it clear that we will not tolerate this kind of conduct.”

The bill includes exemptions for literary, academic, scientific or religious use of the symbols, including the use of swastikas by Hindus, Jains, and other religious groups whose use of swastika iconography is part of their faith tradition and has no connection to Nazism.

Australian Jewish groups broadly welcomed the bill.

“Australian right-wing extremists deserve contempt and ridicule, but also need clear deterrents to their harmful behavior,” said Jeremy Jones of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC). “The proposed commonwealth laws appears to be designed to supplement existing and proposed state Nazi symbol laws in several useful ways – it clearly applies to symbols displayed online, it bans the traffic in Nazi memorabilia, and it provides police with the ability to immediately act to deal with the display of Nazi symbols by giving them the power to order their immediate removal.”

One area of concern about the bill is that it does not ban the Nazi salute at the federal level, despite a ban on the salute by several Australian states, and that it excludes other symbols used by hate groups.

“Our concern is that neo-Nazi groups will circumvent the legislation simply by using the Totenkopf (deaths head), sonenrad (sun wheel) and other well-known Nazi symbols instead of the two prohibited symbols,” the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said in a statement. “We have urged the government to review the legislation periodically so that if our concerns are borne out, the prohibitions may in due course be extended to the display of other Nazi symbols.”

Dreyfus said in response to a question about such concerns that this legislation was a first step.

“The purpose of this law is to identify [and] directly prohibit the two most prominent of the Nazi symbols,” he said. “And no one should think of this as an end. This, if you like, is a beginning, if we need to do more, we will.”

While Dreyfus said he expects the bill will receive bipartisan support, Australian Opposition Leader Peter Dutton of the Liberal Party said he intended to introduce an amendment to the bill to include a federal ban on the Nazi salute as well.

Lawmakers Demand DHS Evaluate Cyber Harassment Based BDS Mapping Project

Citing the Massachusetts “Mapping Project” that alleged an antisemitic conspiracy theory, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation on Thursday that would require the Department of Homeland Security to assess the threat posed by cyber harassment and doxing by terrorists and malign foreign actors.

The “Doxing Threat Assessment Act,” introduced by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Don Bacon (R-NE) and 23 co-sponsors, would direct DHS to report on the risks posed to both national security and individual privacy by the potential online activities of such malicious actors. 

The requested threat assessment would include a summary of cyber harassment strategies used by terrorists and foreign malign actors, a history of notable incidents, a review of threats from potential capabilities of U.S. adversaries and potential ways for law enforcement agencies to identify terrorist and foreign cyber harassment activity.

A press release by Wasserman Schultz’s office highlighted that the Mapping Project, which was organized by an anonymous group of BDS supporters and included the locations of Jewish groups and institutions across Massachusetts, had been endorsed by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Iranian state-run media.

FBI officials said they were monitoring the project when it was first published, and lawmakers urged federal law enforcement to investigate its potential as a “roadmap for violent attacks by supporters of the BDS movement against the people and entities listed therein.” No publicly reported threats or attacks have originated from the project, and no direct links to terror groups have been demonstrated.

“Extremists are exploiting our online platforms to spread private information and incite violence against vulnerable individuals and groups,” Wasserman Schultz said in a statement. “Arming our national security officials and law enforcement with knowledge of how these groups operate and for identifying vulnerabilities and preventing attacks is a first step to protect our communities from harm.”  

Bacon specifically linked the legislation to antisemitic threats in his own statement on the bill.

“This is a new frontier, and we need more information on the threat doxing poses, as we have seen anti-Semitic groups weaponize the data of victims. Jewish citizens and businesses have been targeted by this doxing,” he said. “With more information, our law enforcement will be able to develop a more robust approach to the protections of Americans and their data.”

Addressing potential constitutional concerns on First Amendment grounds, the legislation notes that “the Constitution does not protect speech, conduct, or activities consisting of planning for, conspiring to commit or committing an act of violence.” Republicans have largely balked in recent years at efforts to moderate or monitor online content.

Bacon was the only Republican signatory to the bill, which was co-sponsored by Reps. Becca Balint (D-VT), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Wiley Nickel (D-NC), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Scott Peters (D-CA), Pat Ryan (D-NY), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Susan Wild (D-PA).

Virginia Adopts Leading Antisemitism Definition as State Launches New Efforts to Combat Jew Hatred

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin on Monday signed a bill adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism (IHRA) during a ceremony at the Executive Mansion in Richmond.

“When we acknowledge that we live in a world where there is hate and where that hate is translated into despicable actions, we can stand up together and say there is no room for that. When we can clearly define hatred, as this bill does, then we can transform for the good and build a better future,” Youngkin said before Jewish and other civic leaders.

First adopted in 2005 by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the IHRA definition of antisemitism states that “antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews,” and includes a list of illustrative examples ranging from Holocaust denial to the rejection of the Jewish people’s right to self-determination. The definition is used by over 850 governing institutions, including the US State Department, European Union, and the United Nations. Over 30 countries have adopted it with support from lawmakers across the political spectrum.

In Feburary, Virginia’s legislature approved a bill, HB 1606, adopting the IHRA definition at the recommendation of a state commission created by Youngkin to study antisemitism in the state. The commission noted that while no antisemitic assaults have occurred in Virginia since 2018, 411 antisemitic incidents, including harassment and vandalism had occured in 2021, a 71 percent increase when compared to data for 2020.

Incidents cited by the commission included the graffitiing of a swastika on a Jewish family’s home in Burke and an Arlington student’s airdropping an image of a swastika to his entire class and proceeding to play an online quiz game “using a swastika and a racial slur.” Most notable, however, was an incident from five years ago, the Unite the Right Rally, which took place in Charlottesville in 2017 and led to death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer, who was killed when a white supremacist attending the rally intentionally crashed into dozens of counter-protestors.

The commission recommended several steps for fighting antisemitism in Virginia, including a state law to adopt the IHRA definition, the establishment of an official process for receiving and investigating complaints of antisemitism in K-12 schools and universities, and new educational standards mandating comprehensive instruction in Jewish history for K-12 students.

The state has made progress in implementing the recommendations. In February, it established a state Task Force to promote education about antisemitism, as well as investigate incidents of it. In April, the Virginia Board of Education adopted new standards for the subject of history requiring students to learn about the Nuremberg Laws, the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany, and the effect of the Holocaust and antisemitism on the Jewish people and world history. A bill banning public universities from boycotting Israel, SB 1375, did not pass during the latest legislative session, however.

In addition enshrining the IHRA definition in state law, Governor Youngkin and the Virginia General Assembly have also declared May as Jewish Heritage Month, a decision applauded by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington in a statement issued on Monday.

“We especially appreciate our elected representatives in the Executive Branch and the General Assembly learning about the IHRA definition and engaging our communities about the rising problem of antisemitism,” the group said. We know that a definition alone will not erase antisemitism, but it is an important step affirming the Commonwealth will not tolerate anti-Jewish hate.”

Virginia Delegate Anne Ferrell Tata (R), who sponsored the IHRA bill and represents Virginia Beach, said its adoption by the state “is an important first step toward ending antisemitism in Virginia.”

Bill Adopting IHRA Definition of Antisemitism Passes South Carolina House

The House of Representatives of the South Carolina General Assembly has approved landmark legislation that would require state officials to refer to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating complaints of anti-Jewish discrimination.

All 105 members of the body voted unanimously in favor of bill H.4042, which was authored and proposed by Rep. Beth Bernstein (D). Bernstein told The Algemeiner on Thursday during an interview that she was surprised by the measure’s receiving bipartisan support in an era of extreme political polarization.

“I anticipated there would be some debate on it,” she said. “I was happy that there wasn’t and that we were able to pass this definition of antisemitism, so we could have some clarity and guidance on what antisemitism is.”

Bernstein added that the bill may not be receive a vote in the Senate before the legislative session ends this May but that efforts to make it law will resume in January, when the next session begins. The lawmaker, the only in the General Assembly of Jewish heritage, is also still advocating passage of the Pinckney Hate Crime Act, which, she says, will reinforce the provisions of H. 4042 and prevent South Carolina’s becoming the only state never to pass hate crimes legislation.

Brandon Fish, Director of Community Relations at the Charleston Jewish Federation, said the outcome was “heartening,” explaining that getting the state’s ideologically diverse legislators to agree on anything is difficult.

“A bill on Women Hunting and Fishing Awareness Day in South Carolina can get hijacked and turned into a debate about something else altogether,” he said. “It’s amazing that this did not, and you know, as a Jewish community member, that a bill that meant so much to the Jewish community could become a unifying priority in our statehouse, which can be so bitterly divided, is a good sign.”

First adopted in 2005 by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the IHRA definition of antisemitism states that “antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews,” and includes a list of illustrative examples ranging from Holocaust denial to the rejection of the Jewish people’s right to self-determination.

The IHRA definition of antisemitism is used by over 850 governing institutions, including the US State Department, European Union, and the United Nations. Over 30 countries have adopted it with support from lawmakers across the political spectrum.

Virginia became the most recent state to embrace the IHRA definition in the past year, joining Massachusetts, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Arizona, New York, and Arkansas.

Over half of all US states and the District of Columbia have done so also. In March, however, the Georgia General Assembly failed for the third time in a row to pass legislation adopting the definition after lobbyists representing the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which opposes it, and a renegade Republican lawmaker, Sen. Ed Setlzer, persuaded members that it would undermine free speech.

One in four Americans Jews believe their status in the US is less secure, according to a survey conducted by the American Jewish Committee. 80 percent feel that antisemitism has increased and half said it does not attract as much attention as other forms of discrimination.

House Passes Resolution Calling to Expand Abraham Accords, Honor 75 Years of US-Israel Ties

The House of Representatives on Tuesday evening passed a resolution honoring the 75th anniversary of Israel’s founding and the establishment of US-Israel relations by a vote of 401 to 19. 

The bipartisan legislation had 22 co-sponsors including Representatives Ann Wagner (R-MO), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Kathy Manning (D-NC), and Brad Schneider (D-IL), and calls for deepening US-Israel ties, continued support for US military aid to Israel, and for the expansion of the Abraham Accords that established relations between Israel and several Arab countries in 2020.

Rep. Wagner, who introduced the resolution, said that she was proud of what the US and Israel have accomplished in those 75 years.

“My resolution honors the decades-long partnership between the United States and Israel that underpins security in the Middle East and promotes economic growth throughout the region,” she said in her floor speech. “The bipartisan passage of this resolution reaffirms our commitment to the people of Israel and promotes vital security assistance so they can defend themselves in the face of an increasingly aggressive Iran. We urge other nations to normalize relations with Israel and ensure existing agreements continue to provide necessary economic and national security for those in the area.”

Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), who was also a co-sponsor and a participant in Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ (D-NY) congressional delegation to Israel this week, told The Algemeiner that the resolution would put additional pressure on other countries and the Palestinians to join the accords. 

“The resolution talks about the importance of strengthening and expanding the accords,” he said. “A cornerstone of all of our conversations was how critically important the accords have been for regional security and regional economic development and how successful they’ve been, which is why it’s important that we continue the policy, and this administration has continued the last administration’s policy. I think those are all very positive developments for peace in the region. The Palestinian Authority has not been interested in joining the accords to date, I think this puts pressure on them. The more you expand, the more pressure on them to join and hopefully move towards more room for peace.”

While the resolution garnered overwhelming bipartisan support, a growing number of progressive Democrats are critical of the Jewish state.

That was reflected in the 19 nay votes that included every member of the so-called Squad of left-wing democrats except Greg Casar, as well as the chair of the progressive caucus Pramila Jayapal. The lone Republican nay vote was cast by Thomas Massie (R-KY), a libertarian who routinely votes against foreign policy measures.

Palm Beach County Commissioners Pass New Ordinance Following String of Antisemitic Acts

An emergency ordinance, which aims to crack down on antisemitic acts, was unanimously approved by Palm Beach County commissioners on Tuesday.

It goes into effect immediately.

Under the new ordinance, anyone who puts an image onto a building, structure or public place without the owner's permission could face a fine.

This includes any kind of hate speech, graphics, logos or text.

Recently, a similar ordinance was passed in Duval County.

First-time offenders will have to pay $1,000 in fines, but if the person gets caught a second time around, they could be forced to pay between $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the circumstances.

“I know this isn't going to solve the problem, but this is a tool. More importantly, it's a message to those people who want to bring their hate to Palm Beach County, that you're not welcome here. As a human being, you're welcome, but your hate is not welcome and we are never going to tolerate it as a community,” said Palm Beach County mayor Gregg Weiss.

“We are a very, very small percentage of the population, the only way we can survive is when people come together and say it's not okay,” said Brian Seymour, Vice Chair, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.

Currently, there is no separate hate crime law in Florida.

State lawmakers are considering House Bill 269, which will make certain antisemitic acts a hate crime and a third-degree felony.

Virginia Adopts IHRA Definition of Antisemitism into Law

Virginia lawmakers are taking steps to further protect the Jewish community from antisemitic attacks and persecution with a new bill that recently passed in the Virginia House.

In the most recent legislative session, House Bill 1606 was passed with bipartisan support. This law adopts the Working Definition of Antisemitism into Virginia Law.

This definition was first adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in 2016. The IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism reads: “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.”

“I am proud and honored by the overwhelming bipartisan support from the Virginia General Assembly, which represents a strong step forward in eliminating antisemitic hate and discrimination in Virginia and nationwide,” Delegate Anne Ferrell Tata, the chief patron of HB 1606, said.

The adoption of the definition was first recommended by the Commission to Combat Antisemitism, which released a report to Governor Glenn Youngkin in December 2022 summarizing the state of antisemitism in Virginia. The first recommendation in that report was to formally adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism into Virginia Law.

“Hate has no place in the Commonwealth and I’m proud to take continued steps to fight antisemitism,” Youngkin said in a statement. “I am truly inspired by the devotion shown to transform what started as an idea into a law that will change how we combat antisemitism in the Commonwealth.”

The passage of this bill comes after a reported rise in antisemitic attacks in Virginia and across the country. In 2022, Virginia saw nearly 350 reports of antisemitic acts, according to the Office of the Governor.

Earlier this month, Attorney General Jason Miyares established an Antisemitism Task Force to “monitor, combat, and educate Virginians about hate against Jewish people.” According to Miyares, this Task Force was the first of its kind in the country.