New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed an executive order on Sunday mandating all city agencies to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism – a move intended to enhance the city’s ability to respond consistently to anti‑Jewish incidents.
“We can’t remain silent in a city where the Jewish community makes up 10 percent yet comprises 57 percent of the hate crimes in our city,” Adams said at the signing event in front of approximately 200 Jewish leaders assembled in Manhattan’s Tribeca Synagogue.
“From today forward, the entire Adams administration will use the IHRA working definition to identify and address incidents of antisemitism across the city, as well as to raise awareness of this crisis,” he said. “For example, if a city-funded organization denies the right of the Jewish people to self-determination or makes implication using stereotypes for Jewish people, this definition gives us the tools to crack down.”
Other actionable examples cited by the mayor included “accusing the Jewish people or the state of Israel of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust … Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination by claiming that their very existence [as] a state of Israel is a racist endeavor, or holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of any state, including the state of Israel.”
Due to the definition’s broader application of what constitutes antisemitism, critics say it can be used to stifle free speech criticism of Israel. The New York Civil Liberties Union, for example, immediately slammed the order.
“Mayor Adams is weaponizing the critical fight against antisemitism to suppress protected political speech he doesn’t like. Advocates have warned for years that the IHRA definition of antisemitism recklessly conflates criticism of Israel with hate and violates the Constitution’s free speech protections,” said executive director Donna Lieberman in a statement.
In 2016, IHRA adopted this working non-legal definition: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
The definition was endorsed by all 31 member countries, including the United States and 35 of its states. Although the definition uses general language, the IHRA provides 11 examples of how it can be applied in different situations, including the ones mentioned by Adams.
“The city’s use of the IHRA definition is enormously helpful and forces out of the shadows those who try to disguise their hate with the camouflage of language,” Tribeca Synagogue’s Rabbi Jonathan Glass told The Jewish Press.
The Trump Administration also weighed in on the move.
“As the president’s nominee to combat global antisemitism, I welcome this important step by New York City,” said special envoy nominee Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun in a statement provided by the mayor’s office. “It is crucial for all cities, states, and countries to adopt these policies and build on the requirements outlined in IHRA’s language.”
Adams called upon the City Council to codify the definition into law so that his Executive Order 52 cannot be overridden by a future mayor. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is currently leading in polls for the June 24 mayoral Democratic primary, has said he will also use the definition if elected. Adams is running for reelection in November as an independent and is lagging far behind in polls against Cuomo in a November matchup. He needs Jewish community support to bolster his prospects, political experts say.
For the signing, the mayor brought a national celebrity – national talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw.
“With Mayor Adams, your fight is his fight,” Dr. Phil declared to the Jewish community leaders in the audience. “Trust me, I’ve come to know this man and he is our brother in arms here. He is our brother in standing up against antisemitism.”
Dr. Phil, who is not Jewish, was also there to speak in personal terms about his strong support of Israel, respect for Judaism, and his own efforts to fight antisemitism.
“Israel has the right and moral imperative to exist and defend itself and has done so while embracing the highest standard,” Dr. Phil said.
After the speech, The Jewish Press asked him what Americans misunderstand about Judaism which could lead to antisemitism.
“I think there is a misunderstanding about it and a mystery. And people are afraid sometimes of what they don’t understand,” he said. “There’s resentment towards the success of a lot of those in the Jewish community who came here and worked really, really hard and made a home and a place in our society. And I think people sometimes resent that success, and it gives them a reason to find fault or to push back. We live in a meritocracy and that’s a wrong attitude to take towards people that are highly industrious.”
After the signing, Dr. Phil interviewed the mayor on stage for a Dr. Phil Primetime television episode about antisemitism airing June 17.
Antisemitic incidents are increasing in the city and make up a majority percentage of hate crimes. According to the Anti-Defamation League, there were approximately 1000 antisemitic incidents in the city last year. The New York City Police Department reported that 345 of these incidents rose to the level of a hate crime in 2024, which was more than all other minority groups combined.
