well the Senate is once again considering a bill that would create a Statewide definition of anti-semitism the bill had a hearing in March but that hearing ended abruptly before anyone had a chance to testify those who support the bill say the state needs to take a stronger step to deter anti-Semitism which has seen a dramatic rise since October those opposed to the bill say it limits free speech and conflates criticism of Israel with criticism of Jews today's hearing was held virtually but that didn't stop from getting heated and demonstrating just how contentious this issue has become Ted Goldberg covered it as part of our ongoing series exploring hate that examines anti-Semitism racism and extremism it has nothing to do with protected Free Speech yeah right you a senate hearing on adopting a new definition of anti-semitism started passionately and never really let up as more than 600 people signed up to speak New Jersey is considering a bill that would adopt the definition used by the international Holocaust remembrance Alliance or IRA anti-Semitism and islamophobia are real they are both on the rise and it is hurting us all supporters of the bill say it's sorely needed and that Jewish people have seen a surge of anti-Semitism since Israel started fighting Hamas in October through the past eight months I was harassed bullied disrespected by students and my Administration due to systematic anti-Semitic rhetoric that was widely spread through the whole Academic Year on our campus I have been told that I do not represent T New Jersey but I'm really an agent of the Israeli government when it was asked why people who voted for me feel betrayed by me the answer from a former deputy mayor was well she's a Zionist Jewish and pro-israel students were threatened harassed and marginalized support for Israel became a litmus test for inclusion in student spaces such as clubs and even class WhatsApp chat groups disruptive protest popped up in the student Cafeteria on College Avenue in violation of codes of conduct regarding protesting and causing Jewish students to leave according to the IRA definition anti-Semitism would include denying Jewish people the right to self-determination applying double standards to Israel not given to other democratic nations and comparing Israeli policy to that of the Nazis it doesn't include criticizing Israel as a whole but some think that's not far off as a Palestinian the existence of Israel just like our existence on this land comes at a cost of an indigenous people I can criticize my own country and without any consequences but unfortunately if we criticize Israel there's consequences and and I don't I feel like there should be um there should be some sort of equity criticism of the nation of Israel Israeli policies and Zionism does not amount to criticism of Jews like me or Judaism but it is constitutionally protected political speech others say that won't be an issue criticism of Israel per se is not anti-semitic and the governments that use the IRA definition have found it entirely possible to sharply criticize Israeli policies and practices some think the bills which would also add anti-Semitism and islamophobia to State diversity equity and inclusion policies don't go far enough in fighting hate it's just not a complete or effective definition for our law books relying on it would be dangerous for the Jewish community and harmful to all our communities as so many have said it is particularly flawed because it completes the Jewish people with the state of Israel according to the IH despite my Jewish ancestry and Rich family history I would be cized as an anti-semite because I criticize Israel according to the IH I am a bad Jew at Princeton we have seen um disturbing public instances of anti-Semitism but these bills would do nothing to actually stop anti-Semitism the solution is dialogue and when we actually have dialogue we realize the vast majority of people who support Palestine are not doing so for anti-semitic reasons they're doing so for criticizing Israeli policy the hearing will continue Thursday because so many people wanted to testify today we can expect the same amount of passion and tension as people debate what exactly constitutes anti-Semitism for NJ Spotlight news I'm Ted Goldberg support for exploring hate is provided by Charlotte and David aard and Sue and Edgar wackenheim iiii