• July 21, 2025
• Advocacy
• Anti-Semitism
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As the New Jersey State Legislature prepared to debate the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism—championed by pro-Zionist groups—several prominent Jewish Rabbis publicly appealed to state politicians to reject the measure. The IHRA definition has drawn criticism for silencing legitimate criticism of Zionism and Israeli policies and conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism, particularly amid ongoing humanitarian crises in Gaza and Palestine.

Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss issued a powerful message, urging New Jersey lawmakers to resist the Zionist propaganda. “It’s dangerous to equate Zionism with Judaism,” he stated. “We have a right to our name — Judaism — and it should not be used as a tool for other purposes.”

Rabbi Dovid Feldman echoed this sentiment in a formal statement, clearly asserting: “Anti-Zionism is not antisemitism, and we must not conflate the two.” He stressed the importance of protecting free speech, especially for those standing in solidarity with oppressed communities, including Palestinians enduring immense suffering.

Rabbi Yitzchok Deutsch joined the appeal, urging legislators not to harm the Jewish communities across New York and New Jersey that proudly identify as anti-Zionist. He emphasized their right to speak out against injustice without fear of being labeled antisemitic. “These communities want to continue to speak up against Zionism,” Rabbi Deutsch said.”

other anti Zionist Jews

Together, these Rabbis represent a growing movement within the Jewish community that upholds the ethical imperative to oppose oppression—wherever it occurs—while safeguarding religious integrity and the right to dissent. Their message calls on New Jersey lawmakers to uphold civil liberties and reject legislation that could stifle vital discourse on human rights.