|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Tuesday the creation of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, a new initiative aimed at coordinating the city’s response to the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents. This marks the first time a major U.S. city has created an office focused solely on combating antisemitism.
According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), antisemitic hate crimes accounted for 62 percent of all reported hate crimes in the city during the first quarter of 2025, up from 54 percent in 2024.
The new office will lead a citywide inter-agency task force to address antisemitism through legal, policy, and enforcement measures. Responsibilities include tracking relevant court cases, coordinating with the New York City Law Department on legal actions, advising on executive orders, drafting proposed legislation, and working across agencies to enhance protections for Jewish New Yorkers. The office will also monitor city-funded institutions to ensure they do not engage in or tolerate antisemitic conduct.
Moshe Davis, who previously served as the Jewish liaison in the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, has been appointed executive director. His first task will be to form a commission of Jewish leaders from across the five boroughs to advise the office’s work.
“Antisemitism is an attack not only on Jewish New Yorkers, but on the very idea of New York City as a place where people from all backgrounds can live together,” Mayor Adams stated. “This office will work across city agencies to ensure Jewish New Yorkers are protected and can thrive.”
The initiative has received support from civic and community leaders, including Sacha Roytman, CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).
“I congratulate Mayor Adams for taking bold and necessary action by establishing a city task force to combat antisemitism,” said Roytman. “As someone working globally to counter this growing hatred, I know how critical it is for cities to lead by example. New York, with its deep Jewish roots and vibrant diversity, is sending a clear message: antisemitism has no place in our communities. This initiative sets a model for cities around the world to follow.”
The office builds on existing efforts by the Adams administration to address antisemitism, including support for NYPD investigations of hate crimes, the creation of a Jewish Advisory Council, and the launch of the “Breaking Bread, Building Bonds” program to strengthen inter-community relations across the city.
Mayor Adams was recognized with CAM’s Civic Leadership Award at the 2022 Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in Athens, Greece.
New York City is home to the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel. We’ll ALWAYS defend and cherish this community.
Hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers continue to outnumber all other groups combined, and it’s clear we must take additional action.
That’s… pic.twitter.com/KKJlavePqe
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) May 13, 2025
