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Joint Judiciary hearing splits over bill to adopt IHRA definition of antisemitism
Summary
Supporters said the IHRA definition would provide clarity in identifying antisemitic conduct; critics — including Jewish scholars, civil‑rights groups and university faculty — said codifying IHRA risks chilling free speech and silencing criticism of Israeli government policy.
Boston — Supporters and opponents of House Bill 17‑63 packed testimony before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary over whether to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into state law. Representative Michael Howitt, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the draft would give law enforcement and schools clearer language for identifying antisemitic conduct. "Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews," Howitt read from the IHRA formulation during his testimony.
Proponents, including speakers who identified as Jewish, said codifying a definition would help officials treat and track…
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