MACON, Ga. — A bill that would define antisemitism is pending in the state legislature.
Supporters of House Bill 30, like Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar, say it would protect Jewish people from antisemitic attacks.
In late August, an antisemitic group hung hateful flyers outside Macon's Temple Beth Israel, where Bahar serves as Rabbi. Earlier that summer, in June, an Anti-Semitic group demonstrated outside the temple, shouting what Bibb County deputies called 'obscene language' through a bullhorn.
The group had a blow-up doll representing a gay Jewish man hanging by the neck from a street sign outside the temple.
In the aftermath of those incidents, it raised heightened awareness of antisemitism.
Rabbi Bahar said she went in support of not only her congregation but to Jewish people statewide.
"Antisemitism is hard to define," she said.
However, it's something that must be highlighted, the rabbi explained.
"Since my congregation this summer were victims of antisemitic activity, and that activity has been going, ongoing since then in several other incidents, which I stated in my testimony, I thought it imperative that we fully endorse and support the efforts of the broader Jewish community to aid law officials in carrying out their duties," Bahar explained.
If the bill passes, giving antisemitism a legal definition would help law enforcement determine whether or not a certain act is motivated by antisemitism, according to the law's text.
Co-sponsoring House Bill 30 is John F. Kennedy; Bahar said he and his team personally invited her.
"But, there are statistics that antisemitism is growing," Bahar said.
Since she suffered an accident in November, Bahar said she's still recovering from a concussion.
She said it took her all of Sunday to prepare her testimony, something that would normally be very easy for her to do under normal circumstances.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition, Bahar said, is what supporters for the bill want.
"I hope it passes," Bahar said. "I hope it leads toward broader education to elected officials and law enforcement officials about what is antisemitism, what does it look like and how can it best be addressed."
House Bill 30 is still awaiting votes from the Senate and House for approval.
So far, no vote has been scheduled in the full Senate.
To read the full law, you can click here.