in Trenton lawmakers are advancing a controversial bill that would adopt a new definition of anti-semitism critics say it would effectively label critiques of Israel as anti-semitic at a time when many young people are raising their voices against Israel's offensive in Gaza but legislators say they're motivated to pass a bill as Jewish residents share stories of rising anti-Semitism in the state Ted Goldberg explains why critics fear the bill would limit free speech and What needs to happen next for it to pass I think this is something that is long overdue assemblyman AI schn was happy to see New Jersey get one step closer to redefining anti-Semitism before voting to approve a new bill a senate committee heard nine hours of testimony between Monday and Thursday 600 people signed up to speak and many said new protections are needed for Jewish people Statewide I can speak to the Hanukkah parade that has been performed in Robinsville for many years now and this year the minute we started our parade someone shouted out of their car Fu Zionist I regularly heard from my teachers and classmates you don't look Jewish don't worry the Nazis wouldn't kill you you have blue eyes or at least you're one of the good Jews I am angry at hearing Jewish high school students speak of their daily life at tinac high school since October 7th they are harassed and Afraid the new definition of anti-semitism comes from the international Holocaust remembrance Alliance and it includes certain criticisms of Israel for instance the definition says it's anti-semitic to hold Israel to different standards than other democracies some think this will have a chilling effect on Free Speech despite assurances from lawmakers that it won't there are members of our community that have lost hundreds of their own family members there are some New Jersey residents that were in GDA when this began and some still are if these bills were to be adopted we would be punished for voicing their suffering and our pain and power outrage over these injustices while Israel claims to bring safety for the Jews its actions actually are the greatest exacerbation of anti-Semitism silencing silencing criticism of Israel by falsely using the accusation of anti-Semitism is not helpful it just adds more fuel to the fire if you want to tomorrow talk about Israeli genocide and paliside and criticize the United States for it there is nothing in this legislation that I hope will ultimately be signed by the governor uh that will do that and impinge upon those rights criticizing Israel is not a definition of anti-semitism criticizing the current government in Israel is not a definition of anti-semitism known as curtailing anyone's freedom of speech or freedom of expression Wasim Kanan heads the New Jersey chapter of American Muslims for Palestine our message is very simple that this is a slippery slope he has several issues with the new definition which says it's anti-semitic to say Israel existing is a racist Endeavor its existence comes at a cost to the indigenous Palestinian people that cost is uh forcible removal that cost is quite literal uh mass murder whether it be in 1948 today or in between and if I say that today its actions are unique in its flagrant genocidal conduct toward Palestinians those two things together would be considered anti-semitic 36 states have adopted this definition and so has Camden County in April Eastern Regional High School nearly had a student walk out to support Gaza but County Commissioners stepped in and helped stop it calling the potential walk out dangerous and anti-semitic folks understand how government works it adopts a definition and then bills Beyond in the future will set possible ramifications for what the state deems to be anti-semitic canan's problems with the definition also include something not in the definition that is mindblowing that the primary source of Jewish hate is right-wing white nationalist Jewish hate and it's not even being acknowledged this this definition is wholly inadequate it is irresponsible and it is misguided and uh we're ready to keep going the bill still faces a vote in front of the full assembly and Senate no doubt there will be more passionate debate on both sides of this issue for NJ Spotlight news I'm Ted Goldberg [Music]