Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons On April 29th, the State of Florida’s Senate unanimously passed an “Act relating to anti-Semitism.” This bill will ensure that schools address anti-Semitic behavior in the same manner as other forms of discrimination, while also defining anti-Semitism. The passage of the bill comes just a couple days after the horrific attack at Chabad of Poway, where a gunman left one dead and wounded three others (including a child) on the last day of Passover. In addition to defining the term “anti-Semitism,” the goal of the bill is “prohibiting discrimination in the Florida K-20 public education system based on religion” and “requiring a public K-20 educational institution to take into consideration anti-Semitism under certain instances of discrimination.” The bill will help ensure that Jewish students in Florida’s public schools and universities are protected from discrimination. The bill includes examples of anti-Semitism, such as: Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews, often in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion. Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as a collective, especially, but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions. Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, the State of Israel, or even for acts committed by non-Jews. Accusing Jews as a people or the State of Israel of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust. Additionally, the bill includes examples of anti-Semitism that are specifically related to Israel:. Demonizing Israel by using the symbols and images associated with classic anti-Semitism to characterize Israel or Israelis, drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis, or blaming Israel for all inter-religious or political tensions. Applying a double standard to Israel by requiring behavior of Israel that is not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation, or focusing peace or human rights investigations only on Israel. Delegitimatizing Israel by denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination and denying Israel the right to exits. These examples follow the worldwide “gold standard” definition of anti-Semitism, and one used by the U.S. Department of State. The bill also clarifies that legitimate criticism of Israel will not be considered anti-Semitic. While the bill has passed both the House and Senate, it will now go to Governor Ron DeSantis to sign into law. Florida would follow South Carolina, who officially adopted a definition of anti-Semitism into law in 2018 in their budget. Bipartisan legislation, such as the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act (AAA) has also been introduced federally in order to tackle the rise in anti-Semitic incidents on college campuses.