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The Louis D. Brandeis Center (LDB) is pleased to announce that LDB President and General Counsel, Kenneth L. Marcus’ new book, entitled The Definition of Anti-Semitism, is now available for pre-order, published by Oxford University Press.

Proceeds from this book will benefit LDB and its campaign to fight campus anti-Semitism. The expected publication date is September 1st and is now available for Pre-Order on Amazon.

The task of implementing a working definition of anti-Semitism is extremely important because such a definition, says Kenneth L. Marcus, “can articulate the boundaries of discrimination and harassment towards the Jewish people to ensure their civil rights are upheld, while not intruding upon First Amendment free speech rights.”

This book takes a hard look at that issue, leading the charge to protect civil rights.

This book is the first to delve into the question of, “What is anti-Semitism?” The absence of a consistent definition of anti-Semitism prevents the resolution of anti-Semitic incidences when they occur on college campuses, and allows for “new anti-Semitism”, as Marcus argues, setting a dangerous precedent for continued abuse and violence on America’s most intellectual grounds.

In the book as well, Marcus discusses the history of anti-Semitism, and its past movements and attempts to streamline its definition.

Marcus’s book arrives at a time when the regents of the University of California (UC) system are scheduled, also in September, to discuss whether or not the UC school system ought to adopt the aforementioned definition of anti-Semitism. President of UC system, Janet Napolitano, has recently expressed her support for this specific definition, in response to requests from organizations, such as the Louis D. Brandeis Center, to adopt the State Department’s Definition of Anti-Semitism.

In his recent op-ed, published in The Jerusalem Post, Marcus reasons that in order to battle anti-Semitism, a trend on the rise according a Brandeis Center-Trinity College joint report, universities must address the definition of anti-Semitism itself. Marcus argues that a good definition of anti-Semitism must not only show us how slippery discourse can be, but it must also increase awareness on where the lines ought to be drawn between anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activity and speech. In addition, he says that this definition does not threaten others’ freedom of speech. He says instead that, “freedoms flourish best when rules are clearly articulated and terms are well-understood.”

A good definition also requires, he notes, recognition of the “3Ds,” which include: de-legitimization of, demonization, and applying a double standard to Israel.

Below is Table of Contents:
Chapter One: Attitude, Behavior, and Ideology
Chapter Two: Race and Religion
Chapter Three: Time and Eternity
Chapter Four: Universality and Particularity
Chapter Five: Jewish Identity and the Figural Jew
Chapter Six: Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism

 

UCLA’s student newspaper, the Daily Bruin, is running a poll on the SCR-35 resolution and the State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism. The SCR-35 resolution was passed earlier this month by the California State Assembly urging the University of California (UC) to condemn anti-Semitism. UC President Janet Napolitano also encouraged the condemning of anti-Semitism and supported the adoption of the State Department’s definition.

The Daily Bruin poll (see below) is open for anyone to sign once. The Brandeis Center encourages all who are interested to show their support for the resolution and the State Department’s definition by signing. The take the poll, go here, scroll to the bottom of the page, and look to the bottom left-hand corner of the front page.


 

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