April 25, 2024
Representative Mike Lawler
Representative Josh Gottheimer
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC

Dear Representatives Lawler and Gottheimer,

We write to on behalf of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, to thank you for your leadership in sponsoring the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 (AAA) and express our strong support for this bill.

Your support of the Jewish people in the wake of the October 7th attack and the subsequent spike in domestic antisemitism has been important and meaningful. Your leadership and work in Congress has helped Jewish Americans continue to feel safe in their own communities – your friendship and sincere care has been an encouragement to us in a time of fear and intimidation.

At this time, when American university campuses are roiling with antisemitism, we are thankful for the AAA which will make even more clear the legal obligation for universities to protect students on campuses around the country. Codifying in law that the International Holocaust Remembrance Association’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism is to be applied by the Department of Education for the purposes of enforcing anti-discrimination laws will play a critical role in ensuring the safety of Jewish students in classroom and on campuses around the country.

As prominent scholars of antisemitism have said, the IHRA definition is the “gold standard” of defining antisemitism. That is why it has been adopted and endorsed by scores of governments, corporations, civic organizations and more.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act will ensure that this recognized definition of antisemitism will be utilized and minimize circumstances where antisemitic actions could be dismissed due to a lack of clarity on their hateful nature.

Thank you again for your continued leadership. We urge the House of Representatives to pass this critical legislation and send a strong message to those who foment anti-Jewish events on America’s campuses.

We look forward to continuing working with you on this and other important issues.

Respectfully,

Nathan Diament
Executive Director

Moshe Hauer
Executive Vice-President