HomeMy Public PortalAbout2020-64 Recognizing the growing problem of antisemitism in America and adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance AllianceRESOLUTION NO. 2020.64
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE
VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE, FLORTDA, RECOGNIZING
THE GROWING PROBLEM OF ANTISEMITISM IN
AMERICA AND ADOPTING THE INTERNATIONAL
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE ALLIANCE (IHRA)
WORKING DEFINITION OF ANTISEMITISM AS AN
IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL TOOL TO ADDRESS IT;
PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, antisemitism, including harassment on the basis of actual or perceived Jewish
origin, ancestry, ethnicity, identifz, affiliation, or faith, remains a persistent, pervasive, and
disturbing problem in American society; and
WHEREAS, the Jewish community continues to be a targeted minority in the United
States and are consistently the most likely of all religious groups to be victimizedby incidents of
hate, and such incidents are increasing at an alarming rate; and
WHEREAS, the deadliest attack against the American Jewish community took place on
October 27, 2018 at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, killing eleven
worshippers and injuring several more; and
WHEREAS, state officials and institutions have a responsibility to protect citizens from
acts of hate and bigotry, including antisemitism, and must be given the tools to do so; and
WHEREAS, valid monitoring, informed analysis and investigation, and effective policy-
making all benefit from accurate and uniform definitions; and
WHEREAS, in May 2016, the lnternational Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA),
by consensus vote of its member states, including the United States, adopted a working definition
of antisemitism, which has become the internationally recognized, authoritative definition for use
by governments and international organizations; and
WHEREAS, the IHRA's working definition of antisemitism is that, "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 andlor their
property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities" (the "IHRA Working
Definition of Antisemitism"); and
WHEREAS, the following statement has served as an illustration of antisemitism to guide
the IHRA in its work: "Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived
as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other
counffy cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring
to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for "why things go wrong." It is expressed in
speech, writing, visual forms and action, ancl employs sinister stereotypes and negative character
traits."; and
WHEREAS, contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools,
the workpl ace, andin the religious sphere coulcl, taking into account the overall context, include,
but are not'limited to:
. Calling for, aiding, or justi$iing the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a
radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
. Making mendacious, dehum anizingdemonizing, or stereotyp icalallegations about
Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective - such as, especially but not exclusively,
the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy,
govemment or other societal institutions.
. Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing
cornmitted by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
. Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the
genocide of the Jewish people at the hands ofNational Socialist Germany and its supporters
and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
" Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the
Holocaust.
. Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities
of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
r Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that
the existence ofa State oflsrael is a racist endeavor.
Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded
of any other democratic nation.
. Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of
Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characteize Israel or Israelis.
o Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
o Holding Jews collectivbly responsible for actions of the state of Israel.
WHEREAS, antisemitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by law (for example,
denial of the HoloCaust or distribution of antisemitic materials in some countries); and
WHEREAS' criminal acts are antisemitic when the targets of attacks, whether they are
people or property - such as buildings, schools, places of worship and cemeteries - are selected
because they are, or are perceived to be, Jewish or linked to Jews; and
WHEREAS, antisemitic discrimination is the denial to Jews of opportunities or services
available to others and is illegal in many countries; and
WHEREAS, the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism has proven to be an essential
tool used to determine contemporary manifestations of antisemitism; and
WHEREAS, in January 2019, U.S. President Donald J. Trump signed the Combating
European Anti-Semitism Act of 2017 into law, which outlines how combating anti-Semitism is in
the national interest of the United States; and
WHEREAS, in the United States, the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism is
utilized by various govemment and law enforcement agencies in monitoring, training, and
education, including the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education; and
WHEREAS, to ensure that freedom of speech is maintained in the context of discourse
about Israel and Palestine, without allowing antisemitism to permeate any debate, the Village
Council wishes to clarify that it is not antisemitic to crrticize the government of Israel, without
additional evidence to suggest antisemitic intent, and it is not antisemitic to hold the Israeli
government to the same standards as other liberal democracies, or to take a particular interest in
the Israeli government's policies or actions, without addition evidence to suggest anti-Semitic
intent.
NOWO THEREFORE' BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE
VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals. That each of the above-stated recitals are hereby adopted,
confirmed, and incorporated herein.
Section 2. Adoption. T'hat the Village Council adopts the non-legally binding IHRA
working definition of antisemitism, including the eleven contemporary examples.
Section 3. Implementation. That the Village Manager is hereby authorized to take all
action necessary to implement this Resolution to ensure that the IHRA working definition of
antisemitism is available as an educational resource for the Village to address antisemitism and
other forms of discrimination.
Section 4. Effective Date. This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon
adoption.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 17th day of November,z0z0.
h/
MICHAEL W. DAVEY, MAYOR
ATTEST:
\tl B.
VILLAGE CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL SI.JFFICIENCY:
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WEISS SEROTA HELFMAN COLE & BIERMAN, P.L.
VILLAGE ATTORNEY