Brandeis Center Contributes to Anti-Semitism Report of UN Special Rapporteur

The Brandeis Center responded to a call for submissions from the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, the Special Rapporteur, is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. Central to Shaheed’s work is protecting and promoting “the human right to freedom of religion or belief to advance security, tolerance and inclusion” for both the individual and society.

 

In wake of the renewed intensity and frequency of anti-Semitism, the Special Rapporteur invited organizations concerned with anti-Semitism to offer input for his report, which will be delivered to the UN General Assembly in September 2019. The Special Rapporteur requested information on antisemitic incidents, laws and policies affecting Jews’ right to freedom of religion and belief, state responses to antisemitism, along with recommendations for best practices for non-state actors to combat anti-Jewish animus. On behalf of the Brandeis Center, President and General Counsel Alyza D. Lewin issued an official “Written Submission on Anti-Semitism” for the UN report. The submission highlighted the inextricable link between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, noting that Zionism is an integral part of Jewish identity.

 

Lewin begins the four-page memorandum by stating that anti-Semitism can be expressed in myriad ways; it not only manifests as a “loathing of Jews, their religious practices, and their places in society” but also as a “hatred of Jews’ fundamental core beliefs.” Among those core beliefs is Zionism, a fundamental component of Jewish religious identity defined as “the yearning and desire of Jews to exercise their right to self-determination and to re-establish a Jewish homeland in the land of Israel.” The submission continues by explaining the history of Jews’ ancestral and ethnic connection to the land of Israel. According to the submission, this “Zionism” is as fundamental a component of Jewish identity as observing Shabbat or keeping kosher. Denying Jews this fundamental right – the right to Jewish self-determination –  is anti-Semitic according to the working definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). The IHRA definition states that “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination e.g. by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor” is an example of  anti-Semitism masquerading as legitimate criticism of Israel. The Center notes it is important to understand how Zionism is a key component of Jewish identity because many today find it more challenging to “identify and condemn anti-Semitism that targets Zionism” compared to traditional, more perceptible forms anti-Semitism, such as swastikas or acts of physical violence during Jewish prayer.

 

After outlining Jews’ historical and religious connection to Zionism and clarifying the definitional ambiguities of anti-Semitism, the Center notes the ubiquity of hostility against Jews in the modern world. It warns the Special Rapporteur of the “unfortunate growing campaign to marginalize and isolate Jews who support Israel’s existence” in higher education. College and university campuses, especially those in the United States, have become a breeding ground for student groups that target Zionists by “engaging in smear tactics, in bullying, and in outright harassment.” As a result, movements such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and other affinity groups, have affected a nation-wide trend of making Zionist students—many of whom are Jewish—feel unwelcome and ostracized.

 

The Center also attributes the growth of anti-Semitism to places outside of higher education to highlight the degree to which it pervades the public domain on an international level. The submission notes the incident at the DC Dyke March, when event organizers announced that “Jewish participants may wear or carry religious paraphernalia” but “may not bring any symbols that suggest support for Israel such as a rainbow flag that includes a Star of David.” Furthermore, at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, soccer fans who displayed Israeli flags were subjected to threats, harassment and violence. These cases exemplify the direct discrimination against Jews and Zionists in contexts that, ironically, are meant to celebrate diversity and inclusion.

 

Overall, the Center conveys the severity of modern hatred for Jews and underscores that “no other group is asked to pay such a price” for maintaining a fundamental component of its identity, such as Zionism. The submission to the Special Rapporteur concludes that in order to halt the “rapid rise of anti-Semitic bigotry around the globe,” anti-Zionism must be recognized as a form of anti-Semitism and condemned for what it is: “hateful exclusionary targeting of a historically crucial element of Jewish religion and culture.” The information provided for Dr. Shaheed’s report to the UN General Assembly in September testifies to the Brandeis Center’s commitment to calling out discrimination against Jews, and advancing civil rights for Jews and all people. Even more, it shows the organization’s unwitting leadership in the fight against anti-Semitism.

 

As part of its effort to deliver a comprehensive report on anti-Semitism, the Special Rapporteur is also working with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). At the end of May, leaders from UNESCO’s Education Sector hosted a one-day expert consultation meeting on anti-Semitism at the agency’s headquarters in Paris. The meeting welcomed 25 experts on antisemitism who represented a variety of Jewish-related organizations, human rights groups, and national agencies and academic research centers from France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Israel. While they harbor unique goals and initiatives, each participant in the consultation meeting rallied around UNESCO’s commitment to addressing and preventing contemporary anti-Semitism through education.

Stefania Giannini, the Assistant Director General for Education at UNESCO, underscored the role of education in the Special Rapporteur’s report to the General Assembly. She describes Shaheed’s work as an essential and practical tool “to build the resilience of learners to antisemitic stereotypes, to raise awareness for the harmful effects of discriminatory rhetoric and to empower them to reject all forms of prejudice.” The Special Rapporteur echoed Giannini’s remarks. Shaheed affirmed that “addressing antisemitism will provide a foundation to deal with all forms of hatred,” and that the purpose of his collaboration with UNESCO was to combat “this global challenge.” The collaboration with world leaders shows the extent to which Shaheed is willing to develop a plan to identify, address, and quell the rise of anti-Semitism. With partners such as UNESCO and the Brandeis Center, there is hope that the Special Rapporteur’s will convey the veracity and intensity of modern anti-Semitism to the UN General Assembly in September.

 

To read the Brandeis Center’s complete Written Submission on Anti-Semitism for the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, click here.