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Mayor Eric Adams signed an executive order Sunday adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, as he vowed to ramp up the city campaign to combat Jew hatred.
He also introduced legislation urging the City Council to approve the IHRA definition, which would make it official law.
The IHRA definition is considered by many Jewish leaders to be the standard in fighting antisemitism.
“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,” the IHRA definition states.
Adams announced the order during a discussion with Dr. Phil Sunday night at the Tribeca Synagogue.
It comes as he faces re-election and plans to run as an independent on an “End Semitism” ballot line.
“Antisemitism is a vile disease that’s been spreading across our nation and our city. What’s worse, since Hamas’ terror attacks on October 7, 2023, we have seen this hateful rhetoric become normalized on our campuses, in our communities, and online as antisemitic propaganda far too often masquerades as ‘activism,’” Adams said.
More than half of the hate crimes reported in the city in March victimized Jews, even though they account for just 11 percent of the population, the mayor noted.
“We know this moment demands bold, decisive action to crack down on anti-Jewish hatred,” Adams said.
“Today, we signed a landmark executive order to adopt an internationally recognized definition of antisemitism, but we must go further. I am calling on the City Council to join this commitment to target antisemitism everywhere it exists and immediately pass a bill to codify this definition into law. It’s time we all come together to eradicate this hatred from our city, once and for all.”
At the state level, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo — who’s also running for mayor — issued an order barring state entities from doing business with firms that back the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel before his resignation. Gov. Kathy Hochul has retained the policy.
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has his own pro-Israel policy.
In 2021, he announced that he pulled $111 million in investments out of the firm that owns Ben & Jerry’s because of the ice cream maker’s boycott of Israel’s occupied territories.
DiNapoli is the sole manager of the $274 billion state Common Retirement Fund.
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