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October 5, 2026
Key Developments and What We're Discussing Today:
- Instead of adopting the flawed IHRA definition, checking a box, and moving on, Mayor Mamdani announced meaningful, concrete action to fight antisemitism in the strategy he unveiled last week. Other municipalities should take note, take antisemitism seriously, and follow his lead in creating and funding a whole-of-government approach to fighting antisemitism and rejecting reliance on the IHRA definition as the sole definition.
- The Democratic National Committee announced the creation of the DNC Jewish American Council, dedicated to organizing and engaging Jewish Democrats, strengthening Jewish representation within the Democratic Party, and ensuring Jewish Americans have a meaningful voice in the party’s work nationwide.
- Republicans try to vilify former prosecutor Jack Smith because they cannot contest the facts of Trump's guilt. Sen. Eric Schmitt's (R-MO) latest attempt backfired last week because he didn't know the difference between the Atlanta Hawks (a men’s pro basketball team) and the Iowa Hawkeyes (a women’s college basketball team).
- Wednesday marks three years since October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel on Simchat Torah and murdered 1,200 people (including 44 Americans). More Jews were murdered on that day than on any day since the Holocaust. Hamas wounded 3,300 and took 251 hostages during a day of brutal savagery and sexual violence. You don't have to agree with everything Israel has done since then. You do have to understand the severe trauma that Hamas inflicted on a close-knit nation that has a smaller population and a smaller size than many American states.
- I didn't send this newsletter yesterday because it was Simchat Torah. Look for it at the usual time, bright and early every Sunday, starting this Sunday.
Since you are as unlikely to confuse men's pro basketball with women's college basketball as you are to confuse this newsletter with Jewish Insider, please support my work by chipping in via credit card (you do not need a PayPal account), Zelle (contact me for info), Venmo @Steven-Sheffey (last four digits, 9479), or check.
Friends,
On September 29, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled his strategy to combat antisemitism. Mamdani said in his letter introducing the report, "Let me be clear: my administration has zero tolerance for antisemitism. Not on our subways. Not in our workplaces. Not online. Not anywhere. As Mayor, I will use every power entrusted in me to protect Jewish New Yorkers and ensure that Jewish life flourishes for generations to come."
Instead of adopting the flawed IHRA definition, checking a box, and moving on, Mamdani is taking meaningful, concrete action to fight antisemitism. Other municipalities should take note, take antisemitism seriously, and follow his lead in creating and funding a whole-of-government approach to fighting antisemitism.
Mamdani's strategy cites three definitions of antisemitism: The IHRA definition, the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, and the Nexus Document. All three address antisemitism related to Israel. The latter two definitions are much better at distinguishing criticism of Israel from antisemitism.
Mamdani has said, “It is immensely possible to [keep Jewish New Yorkers safe and celebrate and cherish Jewish life] while also being honest in critiques about the conduct of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and making clear that the responsibility for his conduct is with him and him alone, and not with Jewish New Yorkers here in New York City.”
Emily Tamkin writes that "the decision not to select one definition shows that [Mamdani's program] is focused more on fixing the problem than prematurely picking just one method to solve it. We do not need a definition to fight hatred. We do not have similar pushes to define, say, racism or sexism or xenophobia...By pairing IHRA with other definitions and frameworks, those in office are more, not less, informed and empowered to thoroughly think through how they’re tackling antisemitism."
The Mamdani strategy notes that Federal hate crimes statutes — which criminalize conduct motivated by bias against protected characteristics, such as race, national origin and religion — do not adopt a standalone definition of discrimination.
There is no evidence that antisemitic incidents declined as a result of any jurisdiction's adoption of the IHRA definition.
The Mamdani strategy uses a framework based on the Biden administration’s May 2023 National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism:
“Antisemitism is a stereotypical and negative perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred of Jews. It is prejudice, bias, hostility, discrimination or violence against Jews for being Jews or Jewish institutions or property for being Jewish or perceived as Jewish. Antisemitism can manifest as a form of racial, religious, national origin and/or ethnic discrimination, bias or hatred; or, a combination thereof. However, antisemitism is not simply a form of prejudice or hate. It is also a pernicious conspiracy theory that often features myths about Jewish power and control.”
The strategy does not stop at combating antisemitism, and lists as one of its seven strategic objectives: "Celebrate and cherish Jewish culture and tradition through policy, programming and public messaging."
Mamdani's new program will not help those who want to use allegations of antisemitism to silence criticism of Israel that they cannot refute on the merits, but it is an important step toward fighting real antisemitism and keeping New Yorkers safe.
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin announced the creation of the DNC Jewish American Council. This new constituency council is dedicated to organizing and engaging Jewish Democrats, strengthening Jewish representation within the Democratic Party, and ensuring Jewish Americans have a meaningful voice in the party’s work nationwide.
The message to Jewish Americans, said Vice Chair Steph Newton, is "you belong here. Your voice matters here. And you should never have to choose between being proudly Jewish and being a part of this party. This Council is about building that sense of community while making sure Jewish Democrats have a meaningful voice in the future of our party.”
Adam Goldwyn chairs the Council. The other vice chair is Sam Krunkilton.
All Jewish Democrats can join via this sign-up form.
Just when you think you knew all the dumb Republicans...Last week, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) thought that he had former prosecutor Jack Smith on the ropes. As David Litt summarizes, Schmitt "sprung what he thought was the perfect trap. Smith said he hadn’t been in Atlanta on February 3, 2024. In that case, Schmitt countered, why do we have text messages placing you at an Atlanta Hawks game on that very night...With barely contained self-satisfaction, Schmitt announced that the witness - a prosecutor Trump and MAGA have been trying for years to put behind bars - had probably perjured himself."
Unfortunately for Schmitt, "almost immediately, it became clear that Schmitt was not just wrong, but obviously and provably so. Jack Smith was watching an Iowa Hawkeyes women’s college basketball game that night, not an Atlanta Hawks men’s professional one. The game was in Maryland, not Atlanta."
Why am I telling you this? Partly to highlight the absurdity and stupidity of today's GOP. Partly because in a perverse way, it's funny.
But mainly to point out that, as Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) explains, Republicans try to vilify Jack Smith because they cannot contest the facts of Trump's guilt.
This time, the GOP made a colossal screw-up. Watch this to get a flavor of what happened. Then watch Sen. Katie Britt's (R-AL) real-time reaction as she watches Schmitt's case unravel. Then watch it with the appropriate Curb Your Enthusiasm music.
That's your Republican Party. Do you want to give them control of the Senate for two more years? Do you think Mike Rogers (R-MI) would be the lone Republican to speak out against this nonsense?
In Case You Missed It:
- The Stop the Settlements Act would stop the construction of new settlements or expansion of existing Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank and Gaza through the use of sanctions and a prohibition on the importation of goods made in these settlements and outposts. This is not sanctions against Israel because the West Bank and Gaza are not part of Israel. Rather, this is an attempt to preserve prospects for a two-state solution and ensure Israel's future as a Jewish, democratic state. Please thank the House members who have already signed on and urge your member of Congress to join them.
- All but one Democrat supported, and all but one Republican opposed, a Senate resolution requesting information about the alleged killing of United States citizens by the Israel Defense Forces, other Israeli security forces, or Israeli settlers since January 1, 2022.
- Can Jewish groups work with the Democratic Socialists of America? Nexus President Jonathan Jacoby says Yes--with an "if."
- Shaul Magid explains that even if one disagrees that Israel committed genocide, claiming that genocide accusations against Israel are a blood libel is irresponsible, and to then "answer the accusation of genocide by claiming that it is only Hamas that is guilty of genocide stretches all this to absurd incredulity, even given the obvious fact that Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization."
Jewish Insider Fail of the Week. JI claimed on September 29 that Mamdani's strategy to combat antisemitism "declines to adopt a definition of antisemitism and does not address Israel-related hate." All three of the definitions referenced in the strategy address Israel-related hate, and the strategy itself explains why it did not adopt any one definition.
Jordan Steinberg summed up JI in one Tweet.
We should treat Jewish Insider with the level of trust that we would Fox News.
Social Media of the Week. Jacob Bacharach, Covie, Eylon Levy, Ilyan Sukher, and Karen Howell.
Video Clips of the Week. Sam Morril and the best campaign ad of this cycle.
Vintage Music Clip of the Week. Rolling Stones Rice Krispies jingle.
The Fine Print. Read the fine print before you reply or send me anything.
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