Dear Agudah Activist:

Following the October 7th Hamas massacre, Americans have watched our country’s college campuses devolve into cesspools of unabashed antisemitism. Antisemitic and anti-Israel vitriol from students and professors; praise for Hamas and its butchery; threats, assaults, and violence against Jewish students have all become a regular occurrence that is often met with only a tepid response from officials of even the most elite universities.

Jewish students are rightfully scared for their safety. And we must support them!

The bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act will provide another critical weapon in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism on campus.  The bill 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. Passage of this legislation will ensure that the Department of Education, now and in the future, will have a clear, statutorily-based definition when investigating whether and when anti-Israel or antisemitic incidents cross over from free speech to unlawful activity and behavior.

Last session, the Antisemitism Awareness Act passed the House by a vote of 320-91, but failed to receive a hearing in the Senate.

This year, Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) have reintroduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act in the House (H.R. 1007), while Senators Tim Scott (R-NC)  and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced a companion bill (S.558) in the Senate.

We encourage you to use the link provided above and contact your representatives immediately and urge them to support the Antisemitism Awareness Act and ensure that it becomes law.

To watch Congressman Mike Lawler speak about ways Congress can combat antisemitism including the Antisemitism Awareness Act (from a December 2023 Agudah event in Rockland County) click here

 

All good wishes,

Rabbi Abba Cohen
Vice President for Government Affairs
Washington Director and Counsel

Rabbi Yossie Charner
Director of Congressional Affairs