New York City Mayor Eric Adams has officially adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism for municipal use through an executive order. The signing ceremony at a Manhattan synagogue underscored Adams’ effort to demonstrate decisive leadership on combating antisemitism while addressing what he characterized as normalized hateful rhetoric following recent conflicts.
The definition includes examples that have become subjects of intense scholarly and activist debate, particularly those relating to criticism of Israeli state policies and existence. Critics worry that provisions identifying certain forms of Israel criticism as antisemitic could be misapplied to suppress legitimate discourse, particularly in educational settings where academic freedom is considered essential.
Adams faces challenging political circumstances as he campaigns for reelection while dealing with corruption allegations and strong primary opposition from candidates with dramatically different Middle East policy positions. While Andrew Cuomo has demonstrated firm support for Israeli leadership, Zohran Mamdani has consistently advocated for Palestinian rights and described Israeli actions in Gaza as genocidal.