SWC Welcomes Los Angeles’ Adoption of IHRA Working Definition

November 1, 2022

The Simon Wiesenthal Center today welcomed the announcement by the Los Angeles City Council who, by a vote of 11-0, adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism. The resolution was introduced by Councilmember Paul Koretz and seconded by Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, following a recent rise in anti-Semitic incidents throughout the city.

“Today’s unanimous LA City Council vote to adopt the IHRA working definition of antisemitism is a clear and powerful statement by the Council that antisemitism has no place in our city and indeed any manifestation of antisemitism directed toward Jews, Jewish community institutions and religious facilities is to be unequivocally identified for what it is – antisemitism and bigotry! The City Council’s decision wisely reminds what Simon Wiesenthal famously said, ‘For your benefit, learn from our tragedy (the Holocaust). It is not a written law that the next victims must be Jews. It can also be other people,’” stated SWC Executive Director Rabbi Meyer H. May.

To date, the definition has been adopted by 37 U.N. member countries and 320 non-federal government entities, including 22 U.S. states.

Read more in “Jewish Journal”:
Los Angeles City Council Passes IHRA Definition of Antisemitism


For further information, please email Michele Alkin, Director of Global Communications at malkin@wiesenthal.com or Shawn Rodgers at srodgers@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization numbering over 400.000 members. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS, and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).