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International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Definition of Anti-Semitism

(May 26, 2016)

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) is an intergovernmental body whose purpose is to place political and social leaders' support behind the need for Holocaust education, remembrance, and research both nationally and internationally. The Alliance has 33 members.

The committee on Anti-Semitism and Holocaust Denial called the IHRA Plenary in Budapest in 2015 to adopt the following working definition of anti-Semitism:

“Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

To guide IHRA in its work, the following examples may serve as illustrations:

Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as anti-Semitic. Anti-Semitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms, and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.

Contemporary examples of anti-Semitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:

  • Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews 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 collective — such as, 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, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
  • Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
  • Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
  • Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
  • 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.
  • Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
  • Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.
  • Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
  • Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.

Anti-Semitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by law (for example, denial of the Holocaust or distribution of anti-Semitic materials in some countries).

Criminal acts are anti-Semitic when the targets of attacks, whether they are people or property – such as buildings, schools, places of worship, and cemeteries – are selected because they are, or are perceived to be, Jewish or linked to Jews.

Anti-Semitic discrimination is the denial to Jews of opportunities or services available to others and is illegal in many countries.

As of July 31, 2023, 45 countries, 33 U.S. states, and the District of Columbia) had adopted the Working Definition.

Governments and Bodies that Have Adopted or Endorsed the Working Definition

United States

May 26, 2016

United Kingdom

December 12, 2016

Israel

January 22, 2017 (the Knesset adopted it separately on June 22, 2022)

Austria

April 25, 2017

Romania

May 25, 2017

European Union

June 1, 2017

Germany

September 20, 2017

Bulgaria

October 18, 2017

Belgium

December 14, 2018

Slovenia

December 20, 2018

Sweden

January 27, 2018
January 21, 2020

Lithuania

January 24, 2018

Republic of North Macedonia

March 6, 2018

Netherlands

November 27, 2018

Slovakia

November 28, 2018

Republic of Moldova

January 18, 2019

Czech Republic

January 25, 2019

Hungary

February 18, 2019

State of Florida May 31, 2019

Canada

June 27, 2019

Luxembourg

July 10, 2019

Greece

November 8, 2019

France

February 20, 2019

Cyprus

December 18, 2019

Italy

January 17, 2020

Uruguay

January 27, 2020

State Of Connecticut January 27, 2020
State of Maine January 27, 2020
State of New Hampshire January 27, 2020
State of Rhode Island January 27, 2020

Serbia

February 27, 2020

Argentina

June 4, 2020

Spain

July 22, 2020

Kosovo September 14, 2020

Albania

October 22, 2020

Bahrain October 22, 2020
State of Vermont January 27, 2021
Guatemala January 28, 2021

State of Kentucky

February 28, 2021

Estonia April 2021

Switzerland

June 4, 2021

Government of Quebec

June 10, 2021

State of Texas

June 16, 2021

Portugal July 28, 2021
South Korea August 4, 2021
Madrid September 23, 2021
Poland October 2021
Australia October 13, 2021
State of Montana December 6, 2021
Denmark January 2022
State of Alabama January 26, 2022
State of Idaho January 26, 2022
State of Nevada January 26, 2022
State of Oklahoma January 26, 2022
State of Tennessee January 26, 2022
State of Utah January 26, 2022
State  of Virginia January 26, 2022
State of West Virginia January 26, 2022
State of Wyoming January 26, 2022
Finland February 17, 2022
Philippines February 18, 2022
State of Massachusetts February 18, 2022
State of Iowa March 24, 2022
State of Kansas March 2022
State of Ohio April 14, 2022
State of Arizona April 19, 2022
State of Alaska April 27, 2022
Colombia June 22, 2022
State of New York June 12, 2022
Bosnia & Herzegovina July 27, 2022
State of New Mexico August 16, 2022
Vancouver November 16, 2022
Croatia January 20, 2023
State of Arkansas February 27, 2023
Latvia April 12, 2023
State of North Dakota April 18, 2023
Panama July 25, 2023
Missouri September 19, 2023
State of Colorado October 13, 2023
State of Nebraska November 22, 2023
State of Georgia January 26, 2024
State of South Dakota February 23, 2024

 

Members of the IHRA

Argentina

Germany

Poland

Austria

Greece

Portugal

Belgium

Hungary

Romania

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ireland

Serbia

Canada

Israel

Slovakia

Croatia

Italy

Slovenia

Czech Republic

Latvia

Spain

Denmark

Lithuania

Sweden

Estonia

Luxembourg

Switzerland

Finland

Netherlands

United Kingdom

France

Norway

United States of America


Sources: International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Definition of Anti-Semitism.
Combat Antisemitism Movement & Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry IHRA Working Definitiozn of Antisemitism Adoption Report,” (August 16, 2022).
Rachel Wolf, “Cyprus adopts IHRA definition of antisemitism,” Jerusalem Post, (December 19, 2019).
Lahav Harkov, “Italy adopts IHRA definition of antisemitism,” Jerusalem Post, (January 19, 2020).
“Official Statement by CT Gov. to recognize IHRA,” Press Release, (January 27, 2020).
“ME State Legislature adopts IHRA definition,” Press Release, (January 27, 2020).
“Proclamation by NH Governor to adopt IHRA,” Press Release, (January 27, 2020).
“Proclamation by RI Governor to adopt IHRA,” Press Release, (January 27, 2020).
“Wiesenthal Center Applauds Uruguay's Decision to Combat Anti-Semitism Adopting IHRA`s Working Definition,” Simon Wiesenthal Center, (January 27, 2020).
“Serbia adopts IHRA definition of antisemitism,” World Jewish Congress, (June 4, 2020).
“Argentina adopts IHRA definition of antisemitism,” World Jewish Congress, (June 10, 2020).
Marcy Oster, “Spain adopts IHRA definition of antisemitism,” Jerusalem Post, (December 19, 2019).
Jeremy Sharon, “Albania first Muslim majority state to adopt IHRA antisemitism definition,” Jerusalem Post, (October 22, 2020).
“US, Bahrain sign MOU to combat anti-Semitism and pledge to fight religious intolerance,” JNS, (October 23, 2020).
“10 US states adopt IHRA definition of antisemitism on Holocaust Remembrance Day,” Jerusalem Post, (January 27, 2021).
Philissa Cramer, “Kentucky becomes first US state to adopt IHRA anti-Semitism definition,” JTA, (February 28, 2021).
“Governor Abbott Signs HB 3257 Into Law, Creating The Texas Holocaust, Genocide, And Antisemitism Advisory Commission,” Press Release, Office of the Texas Governor, (June 16, 2021).
“South Korea endorses IHRA definition of anti-Semitism,” JNS, (August 5, 2021)
IHRA Definition Statement,” Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, (October 2021).
Evan Zlatkis, “Australia to adopt IHRA definition of antisemitism,” Australian Jewish News, (October 14, 2021).
“Hadassah Applauds Governor Kristi Noem’s Executive Order On Combating Antisemitism,” Press Release, Hadassah, (December 6, 2021).
Montana Governor’s Proclamation, (December 6, 2021).
“Government of Finland Report on  Human Rights Policy,” Government of Finland, (2022).
“Action plan against anti-Semitism,” Government of Denmark, (January 2022).
“Philippines adopts IHRA definition of antisemitism,” Arutz Sheva, (February 23, 2022).
“IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism Worldwide Adoption & Endorsement Report,” The Combat Antisemitism Movement and The Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University, (March 2022)
“Reynolds signs anti-BDS of Israel and antisemitism bills into law,” Iowa Torch, (March 24, 2022).
“Iowa And Kansas Become 23rd And 24th States To Adopt Ihra Definition,” Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law.
Zvika Klein, “Kansas becomes 20th US state to endorse IHRA antisemitism definition,” Jerusalem Post, (March 24, 2022).
Ohio Executive Order 2022-06D, (April 14, 2022).,
“Arizona votes to adopt IHRA definition of anti-Semitism,” JNS, (April 19, 2022).
“Conference of Presidents applauds US states adopting definition of anti-Semitism,” JNS, (April 28, 2022).
Proclamation of the State of New York, (June 12, 2022).
Zvika Klein, “Knesset finally adopts IHRA definition of antisemitism,” Jerusalem Post, (June 23, 2022).
Executive-Order-2022-118 Adopting Working Definition of Antisemitism, State of New Mexico, (August 16, 2022).
“Croatia to chair International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in 2023, 2024,” Government of the Republic of Croatia, (January 20, 2023).
Zvika Klein, “Arkansas governor adopts IHRA definition of antisemitism,” Jerusalem Post, (February 28, 2023).
“The Government endorses the application of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism in Latvia,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Latvia, (April 12, 2023).
Sergio Carmona, “Jewish leaders praise Panama for adopting IHRA antisemitism definition,” JNS, (July 28, 2023).
“Governor Parson Proclaims September As Jewish American Heritage Month In Missouri,” Office of Governor Michael L. Parson, (September 19, 2023)​​​​​​.
“House Bill 1076,” South Dakota Legislature, (February 23, 2024).