Five Definitions of Antisemitism

As antisemitism continues to threaten American democracy, many people - and institutions - are looking for a concise, objective definition to use in online exchanges, schools, and universities to decide if a derisive comment or chanted epithet is legally actionable.

Why is a definition needed? Antisemitic rhetoric is largely based on conspiracy theories, which are often too absurd-think Jewish space lasers-to challenge rationally. A definition gives shape and boundaries to the ridiculous. To paraphrase world-renowned Holocaust and antisemitism scholar Dr. Deborah Lipstadt, you can't fight what you can't define.

In 1972, scholar Leonard Fein wrote a book about the Reform Movement partially titled, "Reform is a Verb." This was more than a nod to the idea that if our norms, values, and practices were to remain relevant they could not stay static. The same is true for our understanding of antisemitism. Though some of the tropes and methodologies of antisemitism have remained static, much has changed. By codifying specific wording, we leave no space for nuance or personal understanding, hallmarks of Reform Jewish thought.

Here are five definitions of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), the Nexus Taskforce, the Jerusalem Declaration, T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Together, these definitions and others demonstrate the many ways antisemitic ideas are used to foment hatred and division.

The IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism

The IHRA is an intergovernmental agency of 35 member and nine observer countries committed to Holocaust education, remembrance, and research. This definition has been in use in the European Union since 2005 and the U.S. State Department began using it in 2010, referring to it as the "State Department's working definition of antisemitism." The IHRA formally adopted it in 2016.

As of August 2024, the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism had been adopted by 35 states and the District of Columbia. More than 30 nations have adopted this definition, as have more than 1,200 municipalities, government agencies, and organizations. In February 2024, leaders of 27 national Jewish organizations sent an open letter to Congress asking its members to codify the definition into law. With this knowledge in mind, it's important to note that the words "working definition" connote the possibility for change.

The IHRA definition is recognized as authoritative and used widely by governments and institutions worldwide because it was the first of its kind, is succinct, was written and approved by an international body, and was devised as a tool for education.

The definition states:

"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."

This text is followed by 11 examples which give the reader a sense of how these words might translate into action. Seven of the examples relate to Israel. Critics of the definition suggest they do not allow for legitimate criticism of Israel, its leaders, or its actions.

Read the full text of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism.

The Nexus Document

The Nexus Task Force is comprised of academics and clergy-including URJ professional leaders and philanthropic leaders - who came together to study the intersection (or nexus) of antisemitism, Israel, Zionism, and American politics. Formed in 2019, this definition is currently affiliated with the Center for the Study of Hate at Bard College. The group published a white paper - a document used to succinctly analyze a challenge and present solutions - in late 2020.

This definition of antisemitism was derived from the white paper.

Antisemitism consists of anti-Jewish beliefs, attitudes, actions, or systemic conditions. It includes negative beliefs and feelings about Jews, hostile behavior directed against Jews (because they are Jews), and conditions that discriminate against Jews and significantly impede their ability to participate as equals in political, religious, cultural, economic, or social life.

As an embodiment of collective Jewish organization and action, Israel is a magnet for and a target of antisemitic behavior. Thus, it is important for Jews and their allies to understand what is and what is not antisemitic in relation to Israel.

The Nexus Document includes nine examples that illustrate what the group sees as antisemitic. Eight of these examples relate directly or indirectly to Zionism and Israel. The Nexus Document also includes four examples of what, in their view, is not antisemitic. The document suggests that it is not antisemitic to criticize Israel's current policies or the policies which led to the creation of the modern State, and that it is not inherently antisemitic to pay disproportionate attention to Israel.

Read the full text of the Nexus Document.

The Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism

The Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA) was written in response to the IHRA definition. The eight coordinators are experts in the fields of Jewish, Holocaust, and Middle Eastern Studies. The document was drafted in 2020 and published in March, 2021. At this time, approximately 350 scholars have signed onto this resource. JDA takes its name from the location of its sponsoring institution, the Van Leer Institute, a humanities and social science think tank.

The JDA is intended to serve as an alternative to the IHRA definition and its examples. The JDA authors leave room for those, including Jews, who are sharply critical of Israel.

The JDA cites the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (1948) and Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969), among other international gatherings, as inspiration. The JDA authors believe that antisemitism is inextricably connected to, and must be challenged alongside, other forms of hate and discrimination.

The definition reads as follows:

"Antisemitism is discrimination, prejudice, hostility, or violence against Jews as Jews (or Jewish institutions as Jewish)."

Though the definition is concise, the JDA includes 15 examples, 10 of which relate to Israel and Zionism. Of these 10, five are examples of antisemitism and five are examples of things the authors do not believe to be inherently antisemitic.

Read the full text of the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.

T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

Founded in 2002 as Rabbis for Human Rights -North America, Truah's mission is to train and organize Jewish clergy to use Torah values to speak up for and work toward human dignity, justice, and democracy in North America, Israel, and Palestine.

T'ruah's "A Very Brief Guide to Antisemitism" was first published in 2022 and offers an understanding of historic and contemporary North American antisemitism. Part of T'ruah's mission is to speak out against the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Thus, the guide offers a deep dive on what, in their view, can and cannot be considered antisemitism relating to the years-long Israel/Palestine conflict. T'ruah makes it clear that antisemitism should not be used as a weapon to curtail free speech, especially when calling out injustice.

The guide's authors offer this simple definition:

"Antisemitism is hostility, prejudice, hatred, or violence against Jews as Jews."

The document goes on to say:

At its core, antisemitism sees Jews as a nefarious and corrupting presence within society. This hatred originated in antiquity as "anti-Judaism" and evolved into a modern political ideology that blurs race and religion and sometimes takes the form of conspiracy theories. Antisemitism draws on pools of stories and tropes about Jews that got pulled to the surface at different times, in different places, by different people, for different reasons, and with different impacts.

T'ruah also offers several ways to respond to antisemitism including education, relationship building, and legal recourse when necessary.

Download a copy of A Very Brief Guide to Antisemitism.

Southern Poverty Law Center Definition

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) was founded in Montgomery, Alabama in 1971 by two civil rights lawyers who aimed to ensure that the promises of the civil rights movement came to fruition. In addition to fighting racism and empowering members of the Black community, SPLC works for voting rights and democracy, economic justice, judicial and prison reform, and naming and challenging white supremacy.

SPLC frames its definition as an invitation to discussion. Because social change is constant, the organization believes any definition must serve the needs of a constantly changing landscape.

This definition is part of a larger resource guide on antisemitism:

Antisemitism is a set of dehumanizing and hostile beliefs and behaviors that target Jews, both as individuals and as a group, because of their Jewish identity. It takes on many forms, including overt acts of violence, discrimination, harassment, and vandalism, as well as more subtle codes, tropes, and assumptions. A central feature of antisemitism is its conspiratorial nature, where historical antisemitic conspiracies and myths offer a blueprint for future generations to draw on when blaming Jews for various world events. Seemingly disparate groups and individuals across the ideological spectrum use antisemitism to manufacture fear and divide society.

The SPLC definition focuses on the connection between white supremacy and antisemitism while bringing forward the idea that antisemitism is often a foundational belief of racism, homophobia, and other forms of hate.

The SPLC resource offers a brief explanation of common antisemitic tropes and provides examples of how antisemitism manifests today. These examples are largely focused on white supremacy and current U.S. politics, with only one example about Israel.

Read the full text of the SPLC Resource.

At times, antisemitism is clear: a swastika scrawled on a sidewalk or talk of Jews controlling the bankss explicitly antisemitic. Sometimes, it is difficult to tell whether someone's words or actions are antisemitic or not. As you continue to challenge antisemitism in all of its forms, we encourage you to consult any or all of the definitions shared here for guidance.