UK's Sweeping Antisemitism Plan Contrasted With NYC Mayor's Strategy

The British government's comprehensive measures addressing antisemitism in schools stand in sharp contrast to the strategy recently unveiled by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, according to a Holocaust educator.

The U.K. government accepted all 27 recommendations from an independent review into antisemitism in schools and colleges in England. These measures include promoting the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, specialized training for educators, strengthened reporting procedures, and independent oversight.

In comparison, Mamdani's 33-page strategy does not adopt a single definition of antisemitism, explicitly address the relationship between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, or establish numerical benchmarks for measuring the success of its initiatives.

Dov Forman, a British Jewish author and Holocaust educator, stated that Mamdani could benefit from the U.K.'s more targeted approach. "The least [Mamdani] could do is look at what has happened in the U.K. and adopt similar measures, such as adopting the IHRA definition, which is the agreed definition across the world and where there is a consensus of what antisemitism actually is," Forman told Fox News Digital.

The U.K. review, led by former senior education official Sir David Bell, found that nearly three in five Jewish individuals between 16 and 19 had experienced or witnessed antisemitism. The review concluded that antisemitism is a distinct form of racism requiring a specific response and called for clearer guidance to differentiate legitimate political debate from harassment, intimidation, and antisemitic rhetoric.

Forman cautioned that the effectiveness of the British recommendations depends on their implementation by institutions. "I do think some of them will be enforced and listened to. I do worry, though, that the government says things and does not actually take it seriously enough."

Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, welcomed Britain's decision but emphasized that adopting recommendations is only the beginning. "Now, the challenge lies in implementation and enforcement," Kaploun wrote on X.

Forman also urged British officials to examine whether their rhetoric regarding Israel aligns with their commitment to protecting Jewish communities. "Stop talking and start acting," Forman said, calling on the government to confront extremism and identify the origins of antisemitism more directly.

Jewish community leaders in New York have criticized Mamdani's plan. Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, senior rabbi of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, described the strategy as a "paper tiger," arguing that its allocated funds for security are insufficient for a city with a large Jewish population. He claimed that much of the funding would support cultural centers and community initiatives rather than immediate security needs.

A joint statement from the UJA-Federation of New York, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, the American Jewish Committee's New York office, and the New York Board of Rabbis warned that Mamdani's plan fails to address a central source of contemporary antisemitism: rhetoric that demonizes or delegitimizes Israel.

One of Mamdani's early actions as mayor was to revoke an executive order issued by his predecessor, Eric Adams, which had adopted the IHRA definition for city agencies. The IHRA definition provides examples of when criticism of Israel might cross into antisemitism, while clarifying that criticism comparable to that directed at any other country is not inherently antisemitic.

Mamdani's office did not respond to inquiries regarding why the city's strategy omits the IHRA definition and measurable benchmarks, or whether it would consider safeguards similar to those adopted by Britain.