NEWYORK: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism released New York City’s first-ever municipal Strategy to Combat Antisemitism, a comprehensive, whole-of-government plan to confront antisemitism, protect Jewish New Yorkers and strengthen Jewish institutions, traditions and communities across New York City.
At a time when Jewish New Yorkers face a disproportionate share of hate crimes in the city, the strategy makes historic investments in prevention, security, education, survivor support and Jewish cultural life.
The strategy includes $6.4 million in Partners Against the Hate (P.A.T.H.) grants, doubling last year’s funding to community organizations such as the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) that focus on hate crime prevention and survivor support. It also includes $1 million to strengthen the physical security of synagogues and other houses of worship.
The Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism will support implementation of Mayor Mamdani’s historic $26 million investment in the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes. The Mamdani administration will also relaunch the once-disbanded interagency Security Infrastructure Working Group, providing technical and strategic support to Jewish houses of worship and cultural institutions seeking to strengthen their security.
“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,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“Together, we will root out the scourge of rising antisemitism and build a city where Jewish New Yorkers are not only safe but celebrated.”
“As a Jewish New Yorker who is deeply dedicated to the work of combating antisemitism and uplifting Jewish communities, I am honored to release the nation’s first municipal-level Strategy to Combat Antisemitism. 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.
“We will continue listening to Jewish New Yorkers across the city and working alongside communities to make New York a place where everyone can live with dignity and without fear.”
The strategy recognizes that to truly combat antisemitism, we must ensure that Jewish history, culture and contributions to New York City are taught and celebrated.
The administration will work with New York City Public Schools to address complaints of discrimination against any of our public school students, including Jewish students. The City will also expand opportunities for students to visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage, helping more young New Yorkers learn about Jewish history, the Holocaust and the stories of Jewish New Yorkers.
The City is investing $2 million to complete the Queens Holocaust memorial and $2.5 million in the Center for New Jewish Culture in Central Brooklyn, strengthening institutions that preserve Jewish history.
The administration will launch a campaign to increase awareness of the City Human Rights Law and make clear how New Yorkers can report suspected discrimination to the City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR). The campaign will appear on LinkNYC and in other public spaces across the five boroughs.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe means confronting hate in all its forms, while ensuring every community has the support, resources and partnership it needs to live without fear,” said Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Renita Francois.
“This strategy puts that commitment into action — strengthening prevention efforts, supporting survivors, helping secure houses of worship, including synagogues, and coordinating City agencies around the shared responsibility to protect Jewish New Yorkers. Antisemitism is a threat to the safety and values of our entire city, and we will meet it with urgency, vigilance and sustained action.”
“Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe living, learning, working and worshipping in our city — free from the fear and trauma of hate,” said Ayesha Delany-Brumsey, Ph.D., Commissioner of the Office of Community Safety.
“This first-ever Strategy to Combat Antisemitism brings City agencies and community partners together to prevent violence, strengthen protections for Jewish institutions, support survivors and respond decisively when bias threatens our neighbors. The Office of Community Safety is proud to help lead this whole-of-government effort to ensure Jewish New Yorkers can live openly, fully and safely in every borough.”
“New York City belongs to all New Yorkers, no matter their faith, heritage, or identity,” said Christine Clarke, Commissioner and Chair of the NYC Commission on Human Rights.
“Anti-Jewish hate has no place here, and discrimination against Jewish New Yorkers in housing, employment, and public accommodations is illegal. The Commission will thoroughly investigate violations and enforce the NYC Human Rights Law. We look forward to working alongside the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, faith leaders, and community partners to make New York City a safer, more welcoming city for all.”
“For generations, Jewish New Yorkers have built thriving and diverse communities that have helped to define the city we all love. Stopping the disturbing rise in antisemitism cannot be the work of Jewish communities alone, nor can it be left to just one elected official or government agency,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James.
“Combating antisemitism requires a whole-of-government approach to ensure Jewish New Yorkers are protected and able to proudly and safely practice their religion. I commend Mayor Mamdani for bringing together new investments in public safety, education, community engagement, and civil rights enforcement for this comprehensive plan to fight antisemitism and ensure New York City remains open and welcoming to the Jewish people.”
“Safety is the right of every New Yorker, including every Jewish adult and child, allowing them to bring their full selves to daily life, including our civic sphere, public spaces, houses of worship and beyond. In contrast, prejudice is an insidious force, amplifying deep ugliness in the human psyche into corrosive speech and violence. Antisemitism — prejudice against Jewish people and communities — is ahistorical, intellectually lazy and morally indefensible,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams.
“I would not want to be part of a city government or a society where antisemitism was tolerated and allowed to spread unchallenged. Today’s release proves that this is not the case. I commend the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism on developing a plan that speaks powerfully, pledges action and commits resources to see the work through. I look forward to hearing Jewish New Yorkers’ reaction to the plan and monitoring its implementation in my role as Public Advocate.”
“Mayor Mamdani’s plan to combat antisemitism is a thoughtful, strategic combination of education for tolerance, enforcement of civil rights, and investments in safety,” said former City Comptroller Brad Lander.
“It’s no secret that we don’t all agree on many things, from how we pray to how we relate to Israel, but we can all agree and work together on this: Jewish New Yorkers — like all New Yorkers, and in all our diversity — deserve to be and feel safe in our shuls, streets, homes and workplaces, and to feel a valued and integral part of this extraordinary city that has welcomed us, and where we have welcomed so many others.”
“I applaud Mayor Mamdani and Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism Phylisa Wisdom for their leadership in creating the whole-of-government strategy announced today to combat antisemitism,” said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal.
“I’m especially heartened by the Mayor’s commitment to expand Holocaust education and instruction about Jewish life and history, doubling funding for Partners Against The Hate to $6.4 million for community-based organizations on the front lines of hate prevention.”
“Brooklyn is home to one of the largest and most diverse Jewish communities in the world, and every Jewish New Yorker deserves to live, worship and participate fully in our city without fear of violence, harassment or discrimination,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
“This comprehensive strategy recognizes that confronting antisemitism requires prevention, education, support for victims and sustained partnership across government and communities. My Office will continue to vigorously prosecute hate crimes and work with the NYPD, our partners in government, and the communities we serve to keep Jewish life in Brooklyn safe, visible and thriving.”
“Safety isn’t just the absence of violence. It’s the freedom to wear a Star of David, enter a synagogue, and feel fully at home in your city,” said Council Member Yusef Salaam, Chair of the Committee to Combat Hate.
“Mayor Mamdani’s strategy makes clear that fighting antisemitism is everyone’s responsibility, and that no community has to compete for protection. That’s the New York I believe in.”
“Hateful, antisemitic incidents happen far too frequently across our city. I applaud the Mamdani administration for making this issue a top priority and investing real resources to combat it,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler.
“I’m particularly heartened by the administration’s whole-of-government approach, which recognizes that everyone has a responsibility to fight hate and reverse this anti-Semitic scourge.”
“This report demonstrates a cohesive strategy to combat antisemitism in our city, drawing on resources across our government to confront the ugliness of hatred, prejudice, and discrimination,” said Council Member Harvey Epstein.
“I appreciate the administration’s commitment to addressing these complex problems and recognition that the vibrancy that Jewish New Yorkers bring to the city should be celebrated, uplifted and protected.”
“The Strategy to Combat Antisemitism plan released today by Mayor Mamdani is very promising and timely, especially given the ongoing increase in antisemitism in NYC,” said Council Member Lynn Schulman, Co-chair of the City Council Jewish Caucus.
“The steps outlined in the report, for education, security and prevention, are great building blocks to head off and address the antisemitism that has put fear into our communities. Thank you to the Mayor and his team for this comprehensive effort and I look forward to working with the Administration to implement and further these strategies.”
“I thank Mayor Mamdani and his task force for producing a detailed report on concrete strategies the city intends to pursue to address the growth of antisemitism, rooted in our city’s core commitment to protecting all our citizens, regardless of religion,” said State Senator Liz Krueger.
“It is crucial that our mayor, as the leader of our government, continues to make clear through words and actions that Jews in New York can express their religious and political beliefs safely, including those who express support for Zionism, without fear of threats, harassment or violence.”
“There has been a steady, terrifying rise in antisemitism across the globe and nation, including in our very own backyard,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal.
“Jewish New Yorkers are rightfully concerned for their safety, and we, as a city, must use every tool at our disposal to uproot the tentacles of hate that have invaded our communities. This strategy – ensuring that our youngest New Yorkers are exposed to the unvarnished truth of the Holocaust, protecting our synagogues from threats, strengthening civil rights protections and more – is a necessary and important approach in combating the scourge of antisemitism. I thank Mayor Mamdani for creating such a space for collaboration and for committing funding to address antisemitism during such a fraught time. I, along with my colleagues in government, will work to implement this multi-pronged policy approach in our districts, and will continue to advocate for a more tolerant city.”
