New York City Mayor Eric Adams has formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s antisemitism definition for use by city agencies. The signing ceremony at a Manhattan synagogue served as both a policy announcement and a campaign event, with Adams emphasizing his commitment to combating what he described as a “vile disease” of antisemitism spreading across the nation.
The policy has drawn criticism due to controversial examples within the IHRA definition that critics argue could criminalize legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies. These provisions specifically identify questioning Israel’s right to exist and applying different standards to Israel as forms of antisemitism, raising concerns about potential suppression of free expression and academic freedom.
As Adams campaigns for reelection while facing corruption charges, his adoption of this definition appears designed to appeal to Jewish voters who supported him in 2021. However, he faces significant competition from Andrew Cuomo, who has demonstrated equally strong support for Israel, and Zohran Mamdani, whose progressive platform includes harsh criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza and calls for legal accountability.