Your Voice Matters: Sign the Community Letter on Antisemitism

Two weeks ago, my Shabbat message was entitled Dear Governor Murphy, Speaker Coughlin, and President Scutari: You Failed New Jersey’s Jews. In that message, I spoke with you about how New Jersey’s political leadership failed to bring the IHRA antisemitism definition bill to a vote, despite its broad bipartisan support in both the Assembly and the Senate. I also wanted you to see the public letter, signed by over 100 Rabbis serving communities throughout New Jersey, expressing our profound disappointment and outrage at that decision.

Given the media attention that has surrounded the Rabbi's letter, the organizers of this campaign are now encouraging members of the general public to sign a similar letter. This new letter is directed to Governor Sherrill and the leadership of the NJ State Assembly, urging them to act without delay and pass this critical legislation.

I am asking all those who read my Shabbat message to read the letter that follows carefully and if you agree with it, add your name as well. Please also consider sending it to others in your network. While we regret the failure of the Murphy administration with regard to this matter, we must continue to keep the pressure on the new administration and other elected officials. When we raise our voices together, we affirm that Jewish safety and dignity are not negotiable. Adding your name, along with other concerned citizens of all backgrounds, will make a meaningful difference in this effort. 

I was not only proud, but also felt a responsibility to sign the Rabbis letter. I encourage you to do your part as well. Thirty seven states have already adopted this definition. New Jersey must become the next. 

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To Governor Mikie Sherrill and the New Jersey State Assembly:

Antisemitism in the United States has reached alarming levels, and New Jersey has not been spared. Jewish institutions, students, and families across our state face harassment, intimidation, and bias, leaving many of us feeling unsafe in public spaces, on campuses, and in our communities.

Antisemitism cannot be effectively countered without a clear, widely understood definition. While current civil rights and hate-crime laws address overt criminal conduct, they lack the analytical tools needed to identify and prevent contemporary manifestations of Jew-hatred. This gap prevents law enforcement, educators, and civil rights authorities from monitoring threats, intervening early, and training personnel effectively.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition provides the needed framework. Adopted by dozens of democratic governments, educational institutions, and human rights bodies, it reflects how antisemitism manifests today, including in coded and contemporary forms. It gives public officials a shared standard to recognize bias patterns, distinguish protected expression from discriminatory conduct, and take informed action.

We were deeply dismayed that legislation to adopt the IHRA definition was recently shelved for political reasons, despite broad support in the legislature and clear evidence of rising antisemitism. At a moment when Jewish communities seek protection and clarity, this delay sends a troubling message about whether Jewish safety is prioritized.

One hundred New Jersey rabbis recently warned: "Prioritizing politics over antisemitism signals that Jewish safety is negotiable and subjects our community to further harassment and violence. We call on our leaders to immediately pass legislation adopting the IHRA definition and apply it to training, education, and hate-crime response systems."

New Jersey's Jewish community is among the nation's largest. We cannot lag behind in equipping our state to confront rising antisemitism. Defining antisemitism clearly is not symbolic, it is a practical necessity.

Therefore, we urge you to act without delay and pass legislation to adopt the IHRA working definition as a state standard.

CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR NAME

 

 

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