Long Beach, NY adopts International Definition of Antisemitism
The City of Long Beach, NY has adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.
The City Council voted unanimously on 20th June to adopt the Definition, as Acting City Manager Ron Walsh observed that “In New York State, Southampton, Rockville Centre, Yorktown, Greensburg, Huntington, Great Neck Suffolk County, Nassau County, North Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Glen Cove and Lindenhurst have all adopted a working definition for antisemitism. Antisemitism and hatred of all kinds, unfortunately, is a real thing.”
Long Beach, situated on Long Island, has a significant Jewish population. City Council President John Bendo lamented that “In this day and age, it’s a little unfathomable to me that we have to vote on something like this,” adding: “In this day and age, antisemitism is still something we’re wrestling with. It says something about us as a society that it’s still an issue.”
Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft of Temple Emanu-El hailed the Council’s relationship with the Jewish community, saying: “We’re grateful for that relationship and we’re grateful for this Council’s response. So much of this is focused on the Jewish community, but I wanted to remind all of us it’s not a Jewish problem. It’s not only a Jewish problem, but also a human problem. It’s both at the same time.”
Rabbi Isaac Attia, the Director of Long Beach Jewish Experience, read a letter to the Council that he and other rabbis from the city wrote in support of the decision: “Antisemitism remains a persistent and deeply concerning issue not only locally, but also globally. The Long Beach City Council sends a powerful message of solidarity, reaffirming its dedication to combating hate and discrimination.”
Campaign Against Antisemitism applauds the decision, which demonstrates Long Beach’s solidarity with the Jewish community at this worrying time for Jews in the United States.
Britain was the first country in the world to adopt the Definition, something for which Campaign Against Antisemitism worked hard over many meetings with officials. Since then, numerous national, state and local governments have adopted the Definition, and Long Beach joins this growing list of bodies to endorse and use the Definition.
Image credit: City of Long Beach
