Eric Adams has officially implemented the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s antisemitism definition across New York City government through an executive order. The signing ceremony at a synagogue served as both a policy announcement and a demonstration of Adams’ commitment to protecting Jewish communities from what he described as rising antisemitic threats in urban environments.
The IHRA definition contains examples that have drawn criticism from free speech advocates who worry about potential overreach in antisemitism identification. Critics argue that provisions identifying certain forms of Israeli policy criticism as antisemitic could be misused to limit legitimate discourse, particularly in academic settings where Middle East issues are frequently analyzed and debated.
As Adams prepares for a competitive primary election while facing corruption charges, his adoption of this definition appears calculated to maintain Jewish voter support. His opponents present opposing approaches: Andrew Cuomo has demonstrated unwavering support for Israeli leadership, even joining Netanyahu’s legal defense team, while Zohran Mamdani has consistently advocated for Palestinian rights and called Israeli actions genocidal.