An Open Letter to Senator Chuck Schumer On the proposed Anti-Semitism Awareness Act:
Dear Senator Schumer,
We write to express our grave concern about the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, which was already passed by the House of Representatives and is to be considered soon by the Senate. The bill adopts the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, which includes in its contemporary examples “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination.”
In other words, the law would define as anti-Semitic the belief that the Jews should not have their own state – a religious position held by hundreds of thousands of Jews in all the communities we represent. Perversely, a law meant to protect Jews would actually hurt some of the largest Jewish communities in the United States, stifling their freedom of speech and cutting off funding to their institutions.
Furthermore, we contend that the proposed law would worsen anti-Semitism by reinforcing beliefs defined by the IHRA, quite correctly, as anti-Semitic: “Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel than to the interests of their own nations,” and “holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.” By targeting those who don’t believe Jews should have political self-determination, thus conflating anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, the impression is given that Jews campaigned to pass a law that would silence the critics of Israel, hence Jews are all supportive of Israel.
Therefore, we ask you in your capacity as Senate Majority Leader not to bring this proposed bill for a vote. Alternatively, we advocate that the definition of anti-Semitism used in the bill be changed.