A feel good story today: "The largest nongovernmental organization of imams in the world, the Global Imams Council (GIC), has adopted the widely accepted International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism."
The GIC, as per their website, describes themselves as "the world’s first and largest international non-governmental body of Muslim religious Leaders from all Islamic Denominations and Schools of thought, with a rapidly growing number of over 1000 members worldwide. Our diverse council of Imams advocates for peaceful coexistence, tolerance, mutual respect, and the building of bridges with all religious communities, along with tackling extremist ideologies and militant Islam (Islamism)."
The definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) reads as follows: "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.”
What is interesting, however, is the list of things attached to the definition "to guide IHRA in its work, the following examples may serve as illustrations."
While the entire list can be found here [https://www.state.gov/defining-anti-semitism/], some of most interesting ones are these:
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.
Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.
It is unclear from the article whether or not the GIC also affirmed these guidelines as well. Either way, it is a great start - and a brave step forward - which should be commended and appreciated. As such I want to wish them all a "youm el-juma mubarak" - a "blessed Friday" - and "salaam aleikum" - may peace be upon them.
You can see the full story here: https://www.jns.org/largest-ngo-of-imams-worldwide-adopts-universal-definition-of-anti-semitism/
All of this follows on the heels of Albania last week becoming the first Muslim country to adopt this definition as well as this week's Balkan Forum Against Anti-Semitism in which their Prime Minister is participating. If you have been to Israel with me as your Israel tour guide, you might remember from my guiding you in Yad Vashem that Albania - a Muslim country - was the only country the Nazis invaded in which not a single Jew was killed. For more click here: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/albanias-adopts-ihra-definition-of-antisemitism-646558
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