SWC Welcomes National Religious Broadcasters Adoption of IHRA Definition of Anti-Semitism

The Simon Wiesenthal Center welcomed the announcement by the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) that it has adopted a globallyrecognized definition of anti-Semitism - known as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism.

“Fighting antisemitism is a key issue for believers, and it’s very important that our understanding of the issue reflects culturalrealities,” said Troy A. Miller, CEO of the NRB, an international association of Christian communicators whose mission is to protect the free speech rights of its members to speak Biblical truth,by advocating those rights in governmental, corporate, and media sectors.

“An accurate and contemporary definition of antisemitism helps us to recognize and combat this form of hatred wherever it emerges,”Miller said.



“We welcome NRB’s decision,” said SWC Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action Rabbi Abraham Cooper. “It comes at a timeof a continuing surge of anti-Semitic hate crimes around the world, adding that in New York alone, anti-Semitic hate crimes skyrocketed 400% over the last three months. "There is continuousdemonization of Jews and Israel on our nation’s campuses and on social media,” he added.

The IHRA working definition, which was developed with the assistance of the Simon Wiesenthal Center describes various forms of antisemitism, including hatred anddiscrimination against Jews and Holocaust denial.

It also lists examples of anti-Israel criticism that it says in certain context can be defined as antisemitic, including denying theJewish people their right to self-determination, comparing the country’s policies to those of Nazi Germany, and “applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demandedof any other democratic nation.” Criticism of Israel similar to that leveled at any other country is not anti-Semitic, thedefinition also states.

“We need to employ all the tools at our disposal to educate Christians and people of all faiths about the dangers of anti-Semitism,which continues to grow exponentially around the world,” said Rabbi Eric J. Greenberg, SWC’s Director of United Nations Relations and Strategic Partnerships. “The IHRA working definition is a keyto that education in helping to define, identify and reject anti-Semitism.”

The United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and the European Parliament are among the national and international bodies thathave adopted the IHRA definition.

For further information contact the Center’s Communications department at pressinquiries@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament(Parlatino).