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UNDERSTANDING ANTISEMITISM IS OUR BEST WAY OF COMBATING IT

By Josephine Gon
Executive Director of the Palm Beach Center to Combat Antisemitism & Hatred and Public Affairs
Published August 20, 2021

Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is pleased to announce that Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County along with its Board of Directors have both officially adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism.

Antisemitism is arguably the greatest threat to the American Jewish community and Jews worldwide. We have seen a significant rise in the number of antisemitic incidences in the U.S. (including Florida) and around the world. Jews continue to be the victims of 58% of all religious based hate crimes, according to the FBI (2020).

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of Antisemitism is the best tool available to train educators, law enforcement agents, and civil society at large on what antisemitism is, what it is not, and how it manifests in our society today.

We join the U.S. State Department, the European Parliament and over 30 entities and states, including Florida, who have all adopted the definition.

As a result of JCRC’s partnering with American Jewish Committee (AJC) to encourage additional cities throughout Palm Beach County and the rest of South Florida to also adopt the formal definition, many South Florida communities have done so. This helps to guide their work and the work of their respective police departments.

Here is a listing of the municipal governments in South Florida to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism as of Summer of 2024:

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Middle East expert Jonathan Schanzer spoke at a Jewish Federation event in October 2021 and expressed why the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism is so important. Click here to hear his remarks.

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Antisemitism assumes many shapes in today’s world. In order to recognize and understand its various manifestations, JCRC’s Antisemitism Today presentation, now being offered virtually, will provide you and your networks with a clear understanding of the IHRA definition and how it is an important tool in recognizing and combatting antisemitism.

Contact us to bring this crucial discussion to your gated community, social club, professional group or organization.

To schedule a presentation, contact Sandra Euler at sandra.euler@jewishpalmbeach.org

Read Josephine Gon’s JCRC blog to stay up to date about issues affecting the Jewish community of the Palm Beaches.

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