Amid solemn reflection on the 30th anniversary of the AIMA bombing— July 18, 1994, the deadliest terrorist attack in Argentine history—diplomats, leaders from the United States Congress, and Jewish communities gathered to honor the victims and reinforce their commitment to combatting anti-Semitism. From Buenos Aires, U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Deborah Lipstadt marked the occasion by announcing “Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism.” Thirty countries on three continents, the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the Organization of American States, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe provided their signatures to the document. Central to these guidelines is their emphatic endorsement of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism: UNDERSTAND and DEFINE – In order to combat antisemitism, governments need tools to understand its various manifestations. The legally non-binding “International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism” is an important internationally recognized instrument used by over 40 U.N. member states since its adoption in 2016. In addition, hundreds of sub-national public authorities, universities, sports bodies, NGOs, and corporations rely on it. The U.S. and the 29 other signatories have clearly expressed strong support for the IHRA Definition by signing the guidelines, which is an essential tool for defining and addressing contemporary anti-Semitism. However, efforts to legislatively codify the IHRA Definition in the U.S. have encountered challenges. The “Anti-Semitism Awareness Act,” which would legally adopt the IHRA Definition, faces opposition in the Senate. While a majority of senators appear to support the legislation, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has been unwilling to bring to a roll call vote. While some critics claim that the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act would limit free speech, Kenneth L. Marcus, Chairman of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, dismissed these claims. Marcus argued that “Jewish college students are being repeatedly and seriously silenced through intimidation tactics and efforts to exclude anyone for whom Zionism is a part of their identity. If anything, the Antisemitism Awareness Act is a powerful pro-free speech tool.” Mainstream Jewish organizations, including the Jewish Federations of North America, hope that the Senate will consider passing the bill. So far, 35 U.S. states have embraced the IHRA Definition. “The Louis D. Brandeis Center FAQs About Defining Anti-Semitism” fact sheet offers insight on the importance of defining anti-Semitism, discusses the IHRA Definition, and provides guidance on what further steps are needed to utilize the IHRA Definition. The IHRA Definition provides a clear and widely accepted Definition of anti-Semitism, which can help institutions and organizations more effectively identify and combat anti-Semitic behavior. This is especially important for recognizing the many forms anti-Semitism can take. Adopting the IHRA Definition sends a message that institutions and organizations take the issue of anti-Semitism seriously and stand in solidarity with the Jewish community. “I am…confident that these guidelines will broaden and deepen international diplomacy and policy discourse about how best to counter anti-Semitism,” asserted Lipstadt. Authored by: Nicole Hirschkorn