How the Biden administration should approach the issue of antisemitism

JVL Introduction

It is, to say the least, unusual for someone who drafted and fought for a particular definition of antisemitism to be adopted from 2004 onwards, now to be arguing against its use!

But that is exactly what Kenneth S. Stern, director of the renowned Bard Center for the Study of Hate has been doing in recent years.

It is the IHRA definition he is campaigning – one might almost say crusading – against.

Antisemitism grows when leaders normalize our impulse to see an “us” and a “them,” defining the “them” as a danger to us; when democracy is under stress; when institutions such as the press and the court are called illegitimate or enemies of the people.

Using the instruments of state to silence people via a definition will not stop this.

On the contrary: it will undermine what is really needed – finding new ways of thinking and new partners to work with to reduce the seductive allure of hatred, antisemitism included.

This article was originally published by The Times of Israel on Thu 10 Dec 2020. Read the original here.