Dear Agudah Activist:
We have all been stunned and outraged by what we have been hearing and seeing on America’s college campuses: Antisemitic and anti-Israel vitriol from students and professors; praise for Hamas and its butchery; threats, assaults and violence; tepid response from university officials.
Jewish students are scared for their safety. And we must support them!
Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY) have introduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which directs the U.S. Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating possible antisemitic actions on campus. At present, the Department’s lack of a clear definition hampers its investigations as to when anti-Israel or antisemitic incidents cross over from free speech to unlawful harassment and discriminatory behavior.
So antisemites on campus may get away with their antisemitism!
Agudath Israel was pleased to support the Senate-passed bipartisan Blackburn-Rosen resolution denouncing antisemitism on campus and calling on university leaders to voice opposition to such hatred. We were also pleased that the Senate passed the Hawley resolution condemning Hamas and the student groups on campuses that celebrated its atrocities.
But as the antisemitism on campus has only worsened in recent days, further legislation is being pursued in both House and Senate on that vital front. We, therefore, encourage you to contact your senators and representatives today and urge them to support the Antisemitism Awareness Act. It will provide another weapon in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism on campus.
All good wishes,
Rabbi Abba Cohen
Vice President for Government Affairs
Washington Director and Counsel
Rabbi Yossie Charner
Director of Congressional Affairs