FARMINGTON—The Davis County Commissioners passed a resolution at their Tuesday, June 9 meeting “condemning antisemitism and adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s non-binding working definition of antisemitism.” 

Before taking a motion on the action, Lisa Katz, chief government affairs officer at Combat Antisemitism Movement, spoke to the commissioners remotely about the group's efforts and why the resolution is important.

“Hate is a terrible thing,” she said. “Every county should say ‘there’s no home in our community.’ I know that each of you serves because you care deeply about your community and about ensuring in every way that it feels safe, respected and protected.”

Katz said that is why she is asking for their support for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism. “It’s commonly known as IHRA.”

The question today is not whether antisemitism exists, she said. “We know it does. Across our country Jewish schools require armed security, synagogues have active shooter drills, Jewish students are harassed on college campuses and Jewish businesses are vandalized. In communities across America, including yours, Jewish residents are increasingly reporting feeling unsafe and not being able to express a fundamental part of who they are.”

The question is whether people are willing to recognize antisemitism clearly enough to respond to it effectively, said Katz. “You can’t solve a problem you can’t define. When we talk about racism we know what racism looks like. When we talk about discrimination against other minority groups we have language that helps us to identify it.”

When it comes to antisemitism there’s a whole lot of confusion and too often conduct that would be immediately recognized as hate directed at another minority group, is excused, rationalized or ignored when directed at Jews, she said. “That’s precisely why this definition matters.”

It has become a global gold standard because it provides practical guidance to help government officials, education, law enforcement officers and community leaders recognize antisemitism in all of its forms, Katz said. “Accordingly the definition recognizes that antisemitism can sometimes manifest through the target of Israel in ways that are fundamentally different, a legitimate political criticism.”

The IHRA does not prevent criticism of Israel, she said. “People can criticize Israeli policies and leaders and their decisions. We criticize our government. We’re allowed to do that, it’s free speech.”

It’s when it crosses the line into something else, said Katz. “(Such as) when Jews are being collectively blamed for the actions of a foreign government. Meaning somebody is walking down the street wearing a star of David and they're being attacked as a Jew or what’s happening in Israel when they had nothing to do with geopolitical actions.”

The Jewish community is not asking for special treatment, she said. “We are asking for equal treatment and that when hate is directed at Jews, we have the courage to call it what it is. By adopting this definition you’re not taking a position on foreign policy. You are not choosing sides in a political debate. But what you are doing is affirming a simple principle that hatred has no place in Davis County.”

“I am very grateful that the anti-defamation resolution passed,” said Commission Chair John Crofts. “By adopting this resolution, Davis County is sending a clear message that all are welcome here and hate has no place in our community.”