In a move that has sparked heated debate, Congress passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act on Wednesday, drawing criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. The bill requires the Department of Education to utilize the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when enforcing anti-discrimination laws.

The aim of the bill is to address the rise of alleged antisemitic incidents on college campuses, particularly during pro-Palestinian protests. The IHRA definition states that antisemitism is "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews."

However, the bill has faced bipartisan opposition, with critics arguing that it poses threats to free speech protected by the U.S. Constitution and has an overly broad definition of antisemitism. One contentious aspect of the IHRA definition is its inclusion of "claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor."

Among the concerns raised by conservatives is the belief that the bill could potentially make parts of the Bible illegal. Some conservatives argue that the IHRA definition, which identifies the idea that Jewish people were involved in the killing of Jesus as antisemitic, could be interpreted as a restriction on freedom of religion.

Notable figures expressing concern over the bill include conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who questioned whether the House of Representatives had made parts of the Bible illegal. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, known for her controversial statements, announced her opposition to the bill, highlighting her concern that it could criminalize Christians for holding certain beliefs derived from the Gospel.

Lauren Witzke, a former Republican Senate candidate, weighed in on social media, claiming that Congress had voted to make the Bible illegal hate speech and added, "I guess I'll see you all in jail!" Blaze TV host Lauren Chen joined the dissenting voices, accusing supporters of the bill of spitting on the First Amendment and denying the Bible in the process.

It is important to note that the bill does not explicitly make the Bible illegal. The text of the bill states its intent is for the Education Department to consider the IHRA definition of antisemitism when investigating alleged antisemitic discrimination at colleges.

The view that Jewish people were responsible for the death of Jesus has been rejected by many Christians, including the late Pope Benedict XVI. In his book published in 2011, he clarified that the accusations were limited to Temple authorities at the time and not representative of all Jewish people.

The passage of the Antisemitism Awareness Act marks a significant step in addressing antisemitism on college campuses but has ignited a broader conversation surrounding free speech and religious freedom. The bill's critics argue that while combating discrimination is crucial, caution must be exercised to ensure that constitutional protections are not compromised in the process.