Marissa Sabarak (AJC New York) testifies on antisemitism definition and prevention
Marissa Sabarak of AJC New York provides historical context that the term 'antisemitism' was invented in 1879 specifically for anti-Jewish hatred. She cites AJC data showing 56% of Jewish New Yorkers changed their behavior out of fear, and urges focus on the AJC's Combating Antisemitism Playbook priorities including education and intergovernmental coordination.
Good afternoon, Chair Salam.
Thank you so much for your time.
My name is Marissa.
Sabarak, and I'm the Assistant Director of AJC New York, the New York City Regional Office of the American Jewish Committee, the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people since 1906.
Before I begin, I want to provide a historical point regarding the definition of anti-Semitism.
The term anti-Semitism was invented in 1879 specifically as a term for anti-Jewish hatred by a racist German pseudoscientist to legitimize hatred against Jews.
Using it to cover other groups can accidentally erase the unique history of anti-Jewish bigotry and make it harder to precisely address.
According to AJC's 2025 State of Anti-Semitism in America report, 56% of Jewish New Yorkers reported changing their behavior out of fear of anti-Semitism.
More than half of Jewish New Yorkers aren't merely worried about anti-Semitism.
They're changing how they live because of it.
That's what fear looks like in practice.
And if more than half of Jewish New Yorkers are changing their behavior because they're afraid, we should be asking whether the city's current approach to preventing hate and bias is adequately protecting a community that remains the target of more than half of all reported hate crimes in our city.
If the city is serious about prevention, it has to acknowledge that anti-Semitism isn't fueled only by extremists.
It's also fueled when public figures normalize rhetoric that casts Jews, Jewish institutions, or core aspects of Jewish identity as suspect, unwelcome, or you
uniquely deserving of scrutiny.
As the Council evaluates the City's approach to hate and bias, AJC encourages a focus on the priorities outlined in our Combating Anti-Semitism Playbook,
including strengthening relationships between government and communities, improving education about contemporary manifestations of anti-Semitism,
increasing coordination across institutions, and ensuring that policymakers have the information they need to respond effectively.
Thank you so much for your time and your consideration.