For Immediate Release: June 9, 2025
Press Contact: Sophie Ellman-Golan | sophie@jfrej.org 

Jews For Racial & Economic Justice Condemns Mayor Adams’ Dangerous Executive Order Implementing IHRA Definition of Antisemitism

Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), New York’s largest grassroots Jewish organization, warns that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance [IHRA] working definition of antisemitism will chill free speech and fails to address anti-Jewish discrimination.

Yesterday, Mayor Eric Adams signed an executive order adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism – a definition that conflates criticism of Israeli state actions and ideologies with anti-Jewish bigotry. Today, the New York State Assembly codes committee is set to vote on a similar bill that would implement IHRA statewide. Hadas Binyamini, a member of Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ) and an Israeli-American academic in the field of Jewish history, issued the following statement on behalf of the organization: 

“Codifying the IHRA definition into law is deeply dangerous. Mayor Adams’ executive order, and the bill currently making its way through the state legislature create the pretext for New York City and State to inflict punitive measures against New Yorkers speaking out and organizing against Israeli state violence – whether rallying in the streets, speaking out on social media, or organizing neighbors. It does nothing to address anti-Jewish bigotry, discrimination, or hate violence. Rather, it makes Jews the face of state repression.

Trump’s federal government is currently using antisemitism as an excuse for waging his dangerous war on academic freedom, the right to protest, immigrants, and our communities. New Yorkers need our local and state elected officials to protect us from these attacks, not add to them. On behalf of JFREJ’s 6,000 members, I urge all city and state lawmakers to reject any legislation codifying IHRA into law.”

For more information about the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, read this briefing from Diaspora Alliance.

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Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ) is a 6,000-member grassroots organization and the home of New York’s Jewish Left. For over 30 years, JFREJ members have organized alongside our neighbors to transform New York from a playground for the wealthy few into a real democracy, free from all forms of racist violence.