Two members of Congress joined in denouncing a Democratic mayoral candidate for opposing the IHRA working definition of antisemitism. Rep. Mike Lawler of New York and Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey said Zohran Mamdani’s stance would undermine efforts to curb anti-Jewish hate as Mayor Eric Adams uses IHRA to guide city policy.
Adams signed a June executive order adopting the IHRA definition as part of a broader effort to counter antisemitism. The IHRA Working Definition is used in 35 states and much of the world and describes antisemitism as a perception of Jews that may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. It notes that rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism can be directed at Jewish individuals, their property, or at Jewish institutions and religious facilities. Lawler and Gottheimer said there are no two sides about the meaning of calls to support the BDS movement or to criticize Israel, arguing such positions amount to antisemitism and that leaders cannot equivocate when faced with perceived hate speech. With antisemitic violence rising in the region, they urged House colleagues to back the Antisemitism Awareness Act to codify the IHRA definition into federal law.
The Anti-Defamation League has said IHRA’s definition is the best approach to stamp out Jewish hate and warned that abandoning it would be dangerous and out of step with broad bipartisan support. ADL noted that New York City’s adoption aligns with a coalition of cities that use the IHRA Working Definition.
A Mamdani campaign spokesperson said that if elected, the candidate would address antisemitism in line with the Biden Administration’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, emphasizing education, community engagement and accountability to reverse the normalization of antisemitism and promote open dialogue. Mamdani has said he supports nonviolent approaches to address Israeli state violence and has tied his platform to BDS in certain contexts, a stance that drew sharp responses from lawmakers and supporters alike. In a Bloomberg News interview last week, Mamdani indicated he would stop using the IHRA definition if elected, framing his stance as a challenge to how antisemitism is defined in relation to Israel and Zionism.
The case underscores a broader national debate over how to define and counter antisemitism in public policy, with the Antisemitism Awareness Act remaining a focal point in Congress as lawmakers seek a common standard while states and cities continue to implement IHRA in varying forms. The discussions play out against a backdrop of rising antisemitic incidents and the political imperative for clear, enforceable definitions in law and policy.
