I have reason to believe that Andrea Deutsch, a candidate in the 148th District Democratic primary, supports the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism \u2014 a standard adopted by 38 states and both recent presidential administrations. I reached out to Deutsch for confirmation, but have not received a response.<\/p>\n
I will update this post if and when she replies.<\/p>\n
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What Is the IHRA Definition?<\/p>\n
To date, 38 U.S. states \u2014 including New York but not Pennsylvania \u2014 have adopted or endorsed it. Pennsylvania has not adopted the definition, though the effort is active in Harrisburg: Senate Bill 127, which would embed the IHRA definition into the state\u2019s Holocaust education requirements, passed out of the Senate Education Committee on a 6\u20135 vote in May 2025 and is pending further action in the General Assembly.<\/p>\n
The core definition reads:<\/p>\n
\u201cAntisemitism 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The definition is accompanied by 11 contemporary examples that, according to the IHRA, \u201cmay serve as illustrations\u201d of how antisemitism manifests. The examples are described as non-exhaustive, and the IHRA notes that all determinations should take into account the overall context.<\/p>\n
The 11 Contemporary Examples<\/p>\n
Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:<\/p>\n
Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as a collective, such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government, or other societal institutions.Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.A Contested Definition: Why Some Prominent Democrats Reject It<\/p>\n
While the IHRA definition has broad mainstream support \u2014 including from the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and both the Trump and Biden administrations \u2014 it has drawn sustained opposition from a significant faction of the Democratic Party. The objections fall into two main categories: free speech concerns and the definition\u2019s treatment of Israel-related criticism.<\/p>\n
The central controversy involves several of the 11 examples, particularly those that could classify certain critiques of Israeli government policy as antisemitic \u2014 including examples 7, 8, 10, and 11 above. Critics argue these examples blur the line between hatred of Jewish people and political criticism of a nation-state.<\/p>\n
Here are some of the most prominent Democrats who have publicly opposed or distanced themselves from the IHRA definition, and their stated reasons:<\/p>\n
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) \u2014 Senior Jewish Democrat, former House Judiciary Committee Chair<\/p>\n
Nadler, who describes himself as a \u201cdeeply committed Zionist,\u201d has been the most prominent Democratic lawmaker to oppose codifying the IHRA definition into law. When the House passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act in May 2024 \u2014 which would have required the Department of Education to use the IHRA definition in discrimination investigations \u2014 Nadler voted against it, calling the bill \u201cmisguided\u201d and warning that it \u201cthreatens to chill constitutionally protected speech.\u201d He argued that \u201cspeech that is critical of Israel \u2014 alone \u2014 does not constitute unlawful discrimination,\u201d and that there are three legitimate definitions of antisemitism (IHRA, Nexus, and the Jerusalem Declaration), none of which should be exclusively enshrined in law. Nadler also noted that even the definition\u2019s original author opposed its legal codification.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy effectively codifying [the IHRA definition and its examples] into Title VI, this bill threatens to chill constitutionally protected speech. Speech that is critical of Israel \u2014 alone \u2014 does not constitute unlawful discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), floor statement, May 2024<\/p>\n
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) \u2014 Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member<\/p>\n
Sanders, who lost family members in the Holocaust, strongly condemns antisemitism but has opposed legislative efforts to codify the IHRA definition. When the Senate HELP Committee was set to vote on the Antisemitism Awareness Act, Democratic members \u2014 including Sanders as ranking member \u2014 blocked the vote. Sanders argued that lawmakers must defend the First Amendment and the right to peacefully protest, and warned against conflating criticism of Israeli government policy with antisemitism. He has said that equating criticism of Israel\u2019s actions with antisemitism is itself an abuse of the concept.<\/p>\n
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)<\/p>\n
Tlaib voted against a 2024 House resolution endorsing the State Department\u2019s global antisemitism guidelines \u2014 which recommended adoption of the IHRA definition \u2014 and issued a formal statement explaining her position. She said the IHRA definition \u201cdangerously conflates criticism of the state of Israel with antisemitism\u201d and cited concerns shared by Jewish Voice for Peace, Bend the Arc, B\u2019Tselem, Amnesty International, and the ACLU that it would be used to \u201cstifle dissent and chill free speech, especially Palestinian human rights advocacy.\u201d Tlaib was one of only three Democrats to vote against that resolution.<\/p>\n
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)<\/p>\n
Omar also voted against the 2024 resolution endorsing IHRA global guidelines, aligning with Tlaib\u2019s position that the definition conflates political criticism of Israel with antisemitism. She has consistently opposed legislative efforts to codify the definition, arguing it would be weaponized against pro-Palestinian speech and protest.<\/p>\n
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)<\/p>\n
AOC\u2019s position has been somewhat more complicated. She voted for the 2024 nonbinding resolution endorsing the global guidelines (drawing condemnation from progressive allies), but voted against the Antisemitism Awareness Act that would have given the IHRA definition legal force. She has since committed to opposing the IHRA definition outright, stating her opposition on a Democratic Socialists of America call in April 2026. Like Nadler, her objection centers on the Israel-related examples and the potential for the definition to suppress speech protected under the First Amendment.<\/p>\n
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