Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a law this week a "written policy prohibiting the teaching of anti-Semitic concepts" in schools. It also authorizes schools to utilize the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism in case of alleged antisemitism by students.
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With the acceptance of HB 2673, Tennessee becomes the fifth state to legislate the official definition of Jew hatred.
"As the fifth state to enact legislation using the IHRA definition, Tennessee's bill sets a standard for other states to follow as they combat anti-Semitism and confront the delegitimization of the State of Israel in the process," said Israeli-American Coalition for Action chairman Shawn Evenhaim. "We are grateful to see that Jewish and Israeli-Americans are not left to contend with incidents of anti-Semitic hatred alone."
To date, 22 states have issued proclamations and resolutions supporting the IHRA definition. Only five states – Florida, Iowa, South Carolina, Arizona, and now, Tennessee – have codified it into law.
