Defending Jews from the definition of antisemitism | December 16

[Arts Communications]

Please join us for the Fall 2024 Joint University of Waterloo-St. Jerome’s University Legal Studies Seminar.

On Monday the 16th of December, 2024 at 1 p.m. EST, Dr. Itamar Mann and Dr. Lihi Yona (University of Haifa) will be speaking on the topic of  “DEFENDING JEWS FROM THE DEFINITION OF ANTISEMITISM”  via Zoom.

About the talk:

This article, forthcoming in UCLA Law Review, examines the legal debate surrounding antisemitism in the context of Israel criticism, challenging definitions that equate such criticism with antisemitic speech. It argues that current legal definitions impose a narrow, Zionist-centric view of Jewish identity, harming both Palestinian advocacy and Jewish pluralism. Jewish identity is inherently diverse and contested, with this ongoing debate viewed as a vital feature of Jewish tradition.

The article traces the evolution of antisemitism's legal definition, focusing on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition. To counter the harms of this definition, the article proposes a novel legal framework, arguing that criticizing Israel can be an exercise of religious freedom for many American Jews and that antidiscrimination laws should protect Jews targeted for their political positions.

Reinterpreting U.S. constitutional protections to safeguard the plurality of Jewish identities offers a new understanding of religious liberty that allows Jewish communities—and potentially other groups—to determine how religion and politics intertwine in their identities.

About the seminar series:

The Joint Legal Studies Seminar Series features biannual seminars showcasing a range of legal studies scholarship.  The series is hosted by the Departments of Sociology and Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo and St. Jerome’s University.

WHEN: Monday, December 16, 1:00-2:30PM
WHERE: Zoom
DETAILS AND REGISTER<https://uwaterloo.ca/sociology-and-legal-studies/events/defending-jews-definition-antisemitism>

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Please note this email account is not regularly monitored. If you have questions about the event, please reach out to the event organizer.

For help promoting your event, please contact the Arts Communication Team<https://uwaterloo.ca/arts/contacts?title=&group%5B188%5D=188>.
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