More Information on the Issue

On the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism:

“Preliminary K-12 Education Findings and Recommendations” from the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism

See page 19 bullet point (d) and page 22 point 3(a) for recommendations on the use of the IHRA definition of antisemitism; and see pages 20-21 bullet point (2)(a) for recommendation on reporting to the State Police, including through use of an "anonymous reporting option."

“Concerned Jewish Faculty and Staff Urge Special Commission on Antisemitism to Delay Vote on Flawed K-12 Education Recs; Demand Apology from Co-Chairs” by Concerned Jewish Faculty and Staff (Aug. 19, 2025).

“K-12 antisemitism draft recommendations approved over objections of Jewish educators” in The Boston Herald (Aug. 8, 2025).

“Public commenters overwhelmingly reject antisemitism commission’s findings and composition” in The Jewish Journal of Greater Boston (Oct. 3, 2025).

“State commission to combat antisemitism misses the mark: Efforts to micromanage every detail of classroom discussion of Jews, far from protecting them from bias and hate, will only make things worse” by Prof. Alex Gourevitch in Commonwealth Beacon (Sept. 15, 2025).

“State lawmaker leading Mass. antisemitism panel took Israel-funded trip, sparking pushback from critics” in The Boston Globe (Feb. 20, 2025).

“Fight Antisemitism the Massachusetts Way,” Jewish Scholars Tell Antisemitism Commission: “Don’t Manufacture Ammo for Trump’s Authoritarian Assault on Education” by Concerned Jewish Faculty and Staff.

“Letter to the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism: Your approach is toxic and threatens core democratic values. You must change course or cease to exist" by Prof. Aaron Shakow in The Boston Review (Sept. 18, 2025).

Written Submission to the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism, “On Authoritarianism and Antisemitism” by Jeremy Menchik, Associate Professor of International Relations and Political Science Director of the Institute on Culture, Religion, and World Affairs (CURA), Boston University.

On the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism:

“I drafted the definition of antisemitism. Rightwing Jews are weaponizing it" by Kenneth Stern in The Guardian (Dec. 13, 2019).

Letter signed by 1,115 scholars and affiliates of the Genocide and Holocaust Studies Crisis Network calling on administrators to reject the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

Human Rights Watch and 104 civil society organizations urge the United Nations not to endorse the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

Note - This is not just a Massachusetts issue. See:

“California Democrats Are Fighting Trump’s Battle for Him” in The New York Times (Aug. 15, 2025).