Mamdani unveils strategy to combat antisemitism, including synagogue security funding and Holocaust education investments
The plan outlines seven strategic goals including prevention, education, security, victim support and the celebration of Jewish New Yorkers, though it does not directly define antisemitism.
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The Mamdani administration is unveiling what it calls New York City's "first" municipal strategy to combat antisemitism.
The plan outlines seven strategic goals, including prevention, education, security, victim support and the celebration of Jewish New Yorkers, though it does not directly define antisemitism. The administration says the city can enforce existing hate crime and anti-discrimination laws without a singular, formal definition.
"There is much to welcome in the mayor’s strategy, particularly its focus on education, prevention, and ensuring Jewish New Yorkers can live openly and proudly in our city," said Bronx Councilmember Eric Dinowitz. "This strategy, however, misses an opportunity to confront the reality of the intersection between anti-Zionism and antisemitism."
The Partners Against the Hate (P.A.T.H.) grants are being doubled from previous years' funding to $6.4 million. The funding will benefit organizations like the Jewish Relations Council, which focuses on prevention and supporting survivors.
Additionally, $1 million will go towards improving security infrastructure at synagogues and other houses of worship across the city. That money can be used to install cameras, lighting, locks, security assessments and training.
It also calls for new investments in Holocaust education and Jewish cultural institutions, including the Queens Holocaust Memorial that is slated to receive $2 million and the Center for New Jewish Culture in Central Brooklyn will get $2.5 million.
“Antisemitism has no place in New York City. Jewish New Yorkers have helped build this city, shaped its culture and strengthened our communities for generations, and they deserve to be safe, celebrated and protected by a city government that stands with them. Our administration’s Strategy to Combat Antisemitism makes historic investments in securing Jewish cultural institutions and synagogues, increasing educational opportunities for young New Yorkers, and improving public awareness of Jewish history,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote in a statement.
The city also plans to relaunch an interagency Security Infrastructure Working Group to help Jewish institutions with security planning and grant opportunities.
As part of their education, the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism says they plan to coordinate with New York City Public Schools to address complaints of discrimination against any student. They also want to increase school trips to the Museum of Jewish Heritage, which offers free admission to 8th graders.
According to the administration, roughly 14% of 8th graders actually went to see the exhibition event, though it is fully funded through the Gray Foundation and City Council Speaker Julie Menin's office.
Phylisa Wisdom, the executive director of the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, says the strategy was shaped through extensive outreach to Jewish New Yorkers through meetings and listening tours with Jewish New Yorkers from diverse religious, cultural and political backgrounds across the five boroughs.
"Antisemitism is a complex and persistent form of hate, and it cannot be addressed through a single program or agency. This Strategy brings the full power of City government to the work of preventing hate, supporting survivors, protecting Jewish institutions, educating New Yorkers and celebrating Jewish life,” said Phylisa Wisdom, the executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.
Wisdom, who is also Jewish, is one of three full-time employees working in the Office to Combat Antisemitism. The office works closely with the Office to Prevent Hate Crimes and the Office of Mass Engagement.
As part of their outreach, Wisdom says they plan to launch a public campaign using the Link NYC kiosks on city streets to educate and inform people on how they can report discrimination and hate crimes to the city's commission on human rights.
The report is generating reaction from elected officials and leaders in the Jewish community, both who commend the plan but say it lacks clarity on certain issues.
"We are grateful the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism’s new plan features specific commitments to help protect Jewish New Yorkers, including investing in Holocaust education, strengthening physical security, and funding hate violence prevention. For this effort to be effective, Mayor Mamdani must also commit to stopping his harsh anti-Israel rhetoric that makes Jewish New Yorkers vulnerable, as there are clearly times when antisemitic attacks are fueled by anti-Zionism," said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism.
The Anti-Defamation League was a part of the listening tour conducted by Wisdom.
"My initial reaction is what I feared, and what I feared is that the issue that we currently deal with to a great extent in the city is Israel-related antisemitism, is support for terrorist organizations, all of these kinds of issues that the mayor refuses to respond to and we see that is not in the report," said Scott Richman, regional director of the ADL.
On Mamdani's first full day in office, he revoked executive orders put forth by his predecessor Eric Adams, including the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. At the time, he cited concerns from Jewish organizations.
Richman says there has been a rise in Israel-related antisemitism since Oct. 7, 2023.
"Unfortunately, the mayor does not want to put forth a definition of anti-Semitism, because the concern is that it will not encompass all forms of anti-Semitism. That's what we, as ADL, are calling him out on. That's what we're concerned about," said Richman.
On his last day in office, former Mayor Eric Adams released the city's first annual report on the impacts of the newly launched office to combat antisemitism. The report detailed the framework and strategy created by the office since it was launched in May 2025.
Wisdom says their policy is more forward-looking, as opposed to looking back.
