What is the IHRA Definition? #
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism is a practical, non-legally binding tool designed to help governments, institutions, and organizations identify bigotry against Jews in a consistent and informed way. At its core is a 38-word definition:
"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 and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."
The IHRA Definition is the most widely accepted international standard for identifying and combating antisemitism. It is intentionally broad, reflecting the fact that antisemitism can take many forms, from slurs and physical attacks to targeting Jewish institutions. It also recognizes that while this bigotry mainly harms Jews, it can also be directed at non-Jews who are seen as connected to the Jewish community.
Along with the definition, IHRA lists 11 examples of antisemitism. These examples are based on the lived experiences of Jewish communities around the world. They cover both older forms of hate, such as conspiracy theories and accusations of dual loyalty, and modern ones, including Holocaust denial and bigotry related to Israel. At the same time, IHRA states that, “criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.”
The 11 examples in the IHRA Definition, as listed below, are an important tool to help identify the many ways antisemitism can appear in society today:
“Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:
- Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
- Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations 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, government or other societal institutions.
- Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed 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 of National 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.
- Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel 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 characterize Israel or Israelis.
- Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
- Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.”
Why does the IHRA Definition matter? #
While Jews are only 0.2% of the global population, they are among the most common targets of hate crimes in many countries, including Canada, France, England, and the United States.3 For example, while only around 2% of Americans are Jewish, nearly 70% of religiously motivated hate crimes in the U.S. target Jews.4
More broadly, history shows that when a society is poisoned by antisemitism, everyone is likely to suffer. The most well-known example is Germany, where racial hatred and anti-Jewish conspiracy theories contributed to the rise of the Nazi party, World War II, and the Holocaust. The result was horrific death and destruction across Europe and many other parts of the globe. More recently, the antisemitic ideology of Iran’s regime has fueled devastating wars and terrorism across the Middle East, damage to the global economy, and many other harms around the world. Today, Jews and Israel are often falsely blamed for every major problem or crisis facing Western countries, making it harder to come up with real solutions.
To protect people from this danger, the first step is to be able to clearly identify all forms of antisemitism. This can be difficult, because antisemitic ideas shift based on what people see as most evil or threatening at any given time. Over the centuries, Jews have been targeted by religious persecution, racial hatred, conspiracy theories, efforts to strip away their rights in Israel, and more. While some of this bigotry is obvious (such as murder and other hate crimes against Jews), it often appears in more subtle or coded forms.
This is where IHRA comes in. It is a clear and widely accepted definition that truly reflects how Jews experience antisemitism, empowering leaders, institutions, and societies around the world to identify and fight the world’s oldest hatred.
Who created the IHRA Definition? #
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to advancing Holocaust remembrance, research, and education worldwide. Founded in 1998, it unites 35 member countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Israel, in the shared understanding that the lessons of the Holocaust remain as relevant today as ever.
IHRA’s work is driven by the belief that Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism are not separate goals but deeply connected ones. Any meaningful study of history demands that we not just learn about the Holocaust, but also that we learn from it. To pursue both, IHRA brings together governments, historians, researchers, and policy experts, ensuring its work is based on rigorous scholarship and can be applied in real-world situations. Recognizing the need for a shared framework to identify antisemitism, IHRA convened leading experts, policymakers, and representatives of global Jewish communities to develop a shared, practical working definition rooted in academic research and the lived experiences of Jewish people.
Who uses the IHRA Definition? #
TSince 2016, the IHRA Definition has emerged as the most widely accepted international standard for identifying and combating antisemitism. Its increasing adoption by governments, universities, and civic institutions around the world points to a growing consensus: to effectively combat antisemitism, we need a shared understanding of what it is.
In the United States, the IHRA Definition has been recognized at the federal level since the Obama Administration, when it was first included on the State Department website. It has since received bipartisan support from both Democratic and Republican administrations.
In 2019, Canada’s federal government officially adopted the IHRA Definition and made it part of Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.
As of January 2026, over 1,300 entities worldwide have adopted or endorsed the definition, including:
- National Governments: Over 45 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Israel, Australia, and 26 of the 27 EU member states.
- Educational Institutions: Over 340 institutions, including Harvard University and Columbia University, both of which adopted the definition in 2025.
- Local Governments and Civil Societies: Over 500 entities, including states, cities, counties, and civil society organizations.
- Jewish Organizations and Communities: Over 160 Jewish organizations and communities across 66 countries.
- Sports Organizations and Clubs: Over 50 professional sports clubs across at least 10 countries, as well as entire football leagues, including all 20 English Premier League clubs and all 36 German Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs.
The IHRA Definition has also been recognized by leading international organizations. In 2018, the United Nations Secretary-General endorsed it as a foundational tool for law enforcement and prevention policies, while the European Commission adopted it as a guiding framework for combating antisemitism across Europe. In 2020, the Global Imams Council, the largest non-governmental organization of imams in the world, adopted the IHRA Definition. The Organization of American States also called on all member states to adopt it. These international endorsements demonstrate that the IHRA Definition is used and trusted around the world, cementing its role as the global standard for identifying antisemitism.
Common Misconceptions about IHRA: #
Why use the IHRA Definition over other proposed definitions?
The IHRA Definition is the only framework developed through broad international consensus, reflecting the lived experiences of Jewish communities around the world. While the IHRA Definition is not the only definition of antisemitism, no other definition has been developed by leading experts and achieved this level of global adoption and endorsement. Further, some other definitions are designed by political interests seeking to give themselves and their allies a free pass for promoting certain forms of antisemitism. Finally, only the IHRA Definition requires analysis of the overall context of a given situation before determining that it does (or does not) constitute antisemitism.
If non-discrimination laws already exist, why is this needed?
The IHRA Definition is not a law of any kind. While non-discrimination laws exist to punish illegal actions, they cannot address what they cannot identify. This matters in a context where Jews in multiple countries are being targeted with so many hate crimes (see above). The IHRA Definition exists to help educators, institutions, and governments with identifying antisemitism, a form of bigotry that can be easily misunderstood, misclassified, or overlooked, especially in modern or more subtle forms. A clear, shared definition is essential to ensuring that antisemitism is identified and addressed with the same consistency and seriousness as other forms of hate.
Why does the IHRA Definition address speech, not just physical acts?
Antisemitism does not begin with violence; it begins with speech, stereotypes, and the gradual normalization of hate. When left unrecognized or unchallenged, history has shown that it can escalate with devastating consequences. Combating this bigotry means identifying it early, in all its forms and variations. A definition limited to physical acts alone would miss the majority of antisemitism, which is often takes the form of hateful or bigoted speech. That would leave communities exposed to hateful ideas that can directly lead to hateful and violent actions. The IHRA Definition does not designate any of these acts, including speech, as illegal. Instead, it helps ensure that antisemitism is clearly recognized and addressed before it causes more harm.
Does the IHRA Definition infringe on free speech?
No. The IHRA Definition is non-legally binding and creates no legal restrictions of any kind, including on speech. Its purpose is to provide clarity about what is and is not antisemitism. The IHRA Definition does not automatically designate speech as antisemitic; rather, it serves as a practical guide for evaluating when language crosses the line from legitimate expression into hatred or bigotry, based on the overall context of the situation. Non-legally binding frameworks, such as the IHRA Definition, can be used to inform how existing laws and policies are interpreted and how institutions choose to respond to bigotry.
Does the IHRA Definition prevent legitimate criticism of Israel?
No. The IHRA Definition explicitly states that criticism of Israel, similar to that directed at any other country, is not antisemitic. It identifies how anti-Israel ideas can potentially cross the line into bigotry. The examples that accompany the IHRA Definition include demonizing Israelis, discriminating against Israel through double standards, and denying Jewish rights to self-determination. They do not include legitimate criticism of government policy or political leaders. What IHRA does do is help prevent those who spread bigotry related to Israel from getting a free pass. They have the right to free speech, but not the right to avoid criticism when they descend into hate speech. The IHRA Definition is a tool that supports legitimate democratic debate, while providing a framework for understanding when discourse about Israel can become antisemitic.
Doesn’t the IHRA Definition harm Palestinians?
Identifying bigotry or discrimination against one group does not harm any other group. Some Palestinians may oppose Israel’s existence because of suffering they have experienced, rather than outright hatred against Jews. However, their intent does not change the fact that eliminating Israel would have a deeply harmful impact on the Jewish people.
Palestinian activists and their supporters remain free to promote bigoted rhetoric about Jews, if they choose to do so. While the IHRA Definition may identify some of their speech as antisemitic, it does nothing to silence or punish them for speaking. The fact that some of the people who promote antisemitic ideas are Palestinian is not a reason to shy away from identifying and criticizing those ideas.
Isn’t adopting the IHRA Definition divisive within the Jewish community?
No. Jews are not a monolith and hold a wide range of views on different topics. However, the IHRA Definition is one of the few issues on which there is broad agreement. Within the Jewish community, IHRA has been endorsed by over 175 Jewish organizations worldwide and more than 600 rabbis representing Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist communities.
This consensus is also reflected among major umbrella organizations. In North America, both leading umbrella bodies—the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in the United States and Canada’s network of Jewish federations—have endorsed the IHRA Definition. The Conference of Presidents, representing a broad spectrum of U.S. Jewish groups, adopted the Definition in January 2021 with 51 of its member organizations in support, while all 11 Canadian Jewish federations issued a unified public endorsement in 2024.
Globally, the World Jewish Congress has also endorsed the IHRA Definition, while its regional bodies in Europe and Latin America, including the European Jewish Congress and the Congreso Judío Latinoamericano, have played prominent roles in advancing its adoption by governments and international institutions.
