The SHALOM Act: What Is It, & What You Can Do
Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh welcomes the introduction of House Bill 942, the “Standing Up to Hate and Leading with Our Moral Principals” Act–also known as the SHALOM Act, introduced by North Carolina House Speaker Rep. Tim Moore Monday on. Here is an overview of what the bill is, what Federation is doing in response, and what you can do.
What is the SHALOM Act?
The purpose of the bill is to adopt the Working Definition of Antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). This definition is 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.”
Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.
Examples of antisemitic acts include, but are not limited to:
Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.
Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
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.
Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.
See more examples of antisemitic acts here.
Currently, 43 countries and over 30 US states have passed measures adopting the IHRA definition. Doing so would allow the state of North Carolina to have clearer guidelines for prosecuting antisemitic hate crimes.
What is the Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh doing?
Our Jewish Federation has been working with state representatives on this potential legislation for months. We are joining with Federations from across North Carolina for a day of lobbying at our state legislature on May 7 and 8. Our Federation delegation has meetings scheduled with 18 elected officials who represent Greater Raleigh, as well as Gov. Roy Cooper. We will be advocating for the needs of the Jewish community, and asking our representatives to vote in favor of the SHALOM Act will be our top priority.
What can YOU do?
Please call your representative in the NC General Assembly TODAY and urge them to support this bill. Follow these steps:
Click this link to find your representative in the NC House.
Click the name of your representative to see their contact information.
Call the phone number of the representative’s legislative office.
Say, “Hello, my name is [NAME] and I am a constituent of [REPRESENTATIVE]. I am calling to ask the representative to vote YES on the Shalom Act, HB 942. With the rise in antisemitism over the last six months, North Carolina needs a working definition of antisemitism to keep the Jewish community safe and secure. Thank you.”
If you are unable to call, send an email to your representative using the sample text above.
Things are moving very fast with this bill, so we urge you to contact your representative TODAY and encourage your friends to do so as well.
For more information, contact Jewish Community Relations Council Chair Mark Goldhaber at jcrc@shalomraleigh.org.