A Georgian Jew’s Reaction to H.B. 30: IHRA Def. Gets Adopted into State Law

Jewish people continue to be the most targeted minority in the United States. Since October 7th, antisemitism has been rising at an alarming rate, thanks to the lack of education when it comes to the history of Israel and the Jewish people. As a Gen-Z American Jew, I’ve always been disappointed by the extreme bias of others of my own generation, and I would say campus Jew-hatred, fueled by Gen-Z, is only making me feel more unsafe staying here.

Oftentimes, I feel like I am not being acknowledged properly by my non-Jewish peers. But in the end, I am thankful and grateful for the Jewish community and my personal Jewish community.

However, today, I finally felt acknowledged for being Jewish by a non-Jew for the first time in a long time.

Today, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill that adopts the IHRA definition of antisemitism into Georgia law. This is a huge step in hate crime legislation not just in Georgia, but in the United States. I feel I finally have protection for being Jewish in my home state. In fact, all Jews in Georgia finally have protection. When there is room for plenty at the table, there is room for all.

Workplaces and institutions have a responsibility to stop discrimination and protect their employees from such hate, and that includes antisemitism.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signs H.B. 30 into law. The bill adopts the IHRA definition of antisemitism in Georgia. (Screenshot from 11Alive News via YouTube live stream)

Although pro-Hamas students in Georgia tried to stop the bill from passing, our state leaders ultimately rejected hate.

Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff (D), who is Jewish, was not in attendance. Among the attendees at the bill signing included Jenny Sividia, a survivor of the October 7th massacres.

Today and always, I am so proud of my Jewish identity. It feels safer in Georgia tonight and I’m proud to be a Georgian Jew.