Mayor Mamdani Unveils New York City’s First Strategy to Combat Antisemitism

NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism today 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.”

Investing in Jewish Life and Education

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.

Making it Easier to Report Hate and Discrimination

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.

A Whole-of-Government Approach

The strategy is organized around seven strategic objectives that will guide the City’s work to combat antisemitism:

• Prevent hate violence: Encourage and direct sustained investment in programs that prevent hate violence before it occurs. 
• Combat antisemitism in all its forms: Address physical, verbal and digital antisemitism across New York City through coordinated initiatives led by MOCA and agency partners. 
• Educate New Yorkers: Invest in education about Jewish New Yorkers’ contributions to the city, the Holocaust, Jewish history and the lived experiences of Jewish New Yorkers. 
• Support survivors: Ensure victims of antisemitic incidents and hate crimes can access resources, services and support. 
• Protect and celebrate Jewish life: Preserve New York City as a special place to be Jewish, while working with community partners to strengthen and celebrate Jewish communities across the five boroughs.
• Listen to Jewish New Yorkers: Maintain regular, meaningful engagement with Jewish New Yorkers across the ideological spectrum so City government can better understand community needs and deliver services with dignity and respect.
• Celebrate Jewish culture and tradition: Use City policy, programming and public messaging to celebrate and cherish Jewish culture and traditions as an essential part of New York City’s identity. 

The strategy builds on the administration’s existing commitment to protecting Jewish New Yorkers. In September, Mayor Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced heightened security around synagogues, yeshivas and other Jewish institutions during the High Holy Days. The Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, continued by Executive Order No. 2 in January 2026, is charged with developing efforts to combat antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate crimes, supporting victims and celebrating Jewish culture and traditions. The office also coordinates with the City’s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) and other agencies through an interagency task force.

“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.”

“The Mayor’s plan reflects that combatting this most ancient of bigotries requires a whole-of-government approach,” said Assemblymember Alex Bores. “NYC, as the home of the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, has a special responsibility to ensure the city remains a safe and welcoming place. I look forward to working with the Mayor to implement this first-of-its-kind plan.”

“This strategy is an important intervention that reflects the voices of the hundreds of Jewish New Yorkers consulted throughout the process, that celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of Jewish New Yorkers, and that commits real city resources to fighting antisemitism wherever it appears,” said Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T'ruah.

“At a moment of rising antisemitism on both ends of our deeply polarized political conversation, NYJA welcomes this new report from Mayor Mamdani’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, and we are grateful for the leadership that made this possible. Never before has New York or any American city released a comprehensive plan to address antisemitism as a municipality, and we join its drafters in insisting that Jewish New Yorkers deserve both safety and celebration alongside our neighbors,” said Rabbi Margo Hughes-Robinson, Executive Director of New York Jewish Agenda (NYJA). “We are grateful for the announced investments not only in physical security and access, but the attention paid to and investments in Jewish history, culture and the unique role of New York City as not only the largest Jewish city in the Diaspora, but a hub of Jewish creativity and thriving since 1654.”

“Antisemitism is not an abstract concern for New York’s Jewish community. It affects how our families live, how our children go to school, and whether people feel safe expressing their Jewish identity in the city we call home. Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s commitment of substantial resources to education, prevention and combating hate is an important step, and I welcome his administration’s recognition of the seriousness of this challenge,” said Rabbi Moishe Indig, Executive Vice President of the Williamsburg JCC. “The true measure of this strategy will be its impact on the streets and in our communities. I look forward to working with Mayor Mamdani and his administration to turn these commitments into meaningful and lasting protection for Jewish New Yorkers and a safer New York for everyone.”

“In Williamsburg, we know all too well the painful reality of antisemitism. Jewish New Yorkers have repeatedly been targeted in attacks driven by antisemitism, and tragically, this has been going on for years. Williamsburg is not alone. Jewish communities across New York City continue to face hate and intimidation,” said Rabbi David Niederman, Executive Director, United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn. “We thank Mayor Mamdani for recognizing the urgency of confronting antisemitism and for putting forward a comprehensive strategy backed by meaningful resources for education, prevention and combating hate. We look forward to working with the Mayor and his administration to ensure that these efforts make a real difference in Williamsburg and in Jewish communities throughout our city.”

“At a moment of real and rising antisemitism, extremism and violence across the ideological spectrum, our communities deserve a whole-of-government response. This strategy marks an important step toward that goal — rooted in the recognition that Jewish safety and inclusive, pluralistic democracy must go hand-in-hand,” said Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA). “The City’s investments in civil rights and Title VI protections, hate crime prevention and more are particularly vital as the federal government continues to disinvest from these key programs — and as Jewish safety is too often treated as a political football rather than a core governmental responsibility. There is so much work ahead, but this strategy is a welcome step forward.”

“This wide-ranging strategy shows once again Mayor Mamdani’s commitment to a city where all can live without fear and with respect and dignity,” said Ron Klain, former White House chief of staff and former trustee of the U.S. Holocaust Museum. “Antisemitism is one of the oldest forms of hate on earth and the thoughtful and energetic plans in this strategy offer a robust set of tools to combat this ancient hate.”

“Antisemitism is a real and urgent threat, and confronting it takes a whole-of-government approach, not a fight over a definition,” said Hadar Susskind, President and CEO of New Jewish Narrative. “The Biden administration’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism recognized this. With the current administration having abandoned that work, we are grateful to the Mayor for taking on this fight in a meaningful and comprehensive way. This plan confronts antisemitism seriously while protecting the civil liberties that keep all New Yorkers, including Jewish New Yorkers, safe.”

“By doubling funding for PATH grants and focusing on the prevention of antisemitism and hate violence, the Mamdani administration has significantly raised the bar for what it looks like to comprehensively address this issue,” said Audrey Sasson, Executive Director, Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ). “We’re particularly gratified to see MOCA make a commitment to data collection, restorative justice and survivor support in partnership with community-based organizations, mirroring recommendations laid out in our NYC Against Hate Violence policy proposal. We know pluralistic, multiracial democracies create the best conditions for Jewish safety and are excited to partner with the Mayor’s Office to make this city safe for all New Yorkers – Jewish and non-Jewish alike.”

“There is not one way to fix the persistent problem of antisemitism,” said Deborah Lauter, founding director of the NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (2019-22) and director, The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights. “The Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism has put forth an important, thoughtful multi-pronged strategy that will make a positive difference in ensuring the safety and flourishing of NYC's diverse Jewish community.”

“The Mayor’s antisemitism report reflects a commendably inclusive process and was clearly influenced by the voices of Jewish New Yorkers across the city’s many communities; it shows a mayor listening and responding to our concerns,” said Jamie Beran, CEO of Bend the Arc. “We’re grateful that the report focuses on tangible solutions, including investments in prevention, cultural competency, education and physical safety that protects all at-risk New Yorkers, not just our Jewish communities, as our safety is bound up in the safety of our neighbors. We also commend Mayor Mamdani for choosing not to enshrine a single definition of antisemitism, which is both unnecessary and often a distraction from substantive policies. This is what a multifaith, multiracial democracy can look like at its best: where leaders hear us and communities know we are safest in solidarity with each other.”

“This plan shows that Mayor Mamdani has listened to the concerns of Jewish New Yorkers – and put forward meaningful commitments and real funding to help keep them safe,” said Jonathan Jacoby, President of the Nexus Project. “Mayor Mamdani’s strategy is rooted in an important recognition that confronting antisemitism is a critical part of the wider struggle against bigotry. Jews have always thrived in pluralistic democracies. When we defend one another and build a society where no group can be singled out for discrimination, we’re all safer and more secure.”

“This comprehensive plan on combatting antisemitism is an important step towards ensuring the safety of all New Yorkers. We must work together to fight the rise of antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of hate with love and compassion,” said Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Rabbi Emerita of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah. “This plan is an excellent roadmap. Let us join together and insist that New York City is a place of diversity of so many different ideas and peoples but a place where engagement replaces hate, curiosity replaces fear and love wins.”

“Freedom of religion is one of the bedrock guarantees in our nation’s Bill of Rights, and that means being free to practice your faith and live it out without fear of hatred, intimidation or threat of violence,” said Archbishop Ronald Hicks of the Archdiocese of New York. “That is particularly important for our Jewish brothers and sisters as they face a rising tide of antisemitism, but it applies as well to people of all faiths and religions. It is encouraging to see our Mayor addressing this crucial issue.”

“Jewish New Yorkers deserve to live, worship and raise their families in safety and dignity. I support Mayor Mamdani’s strategy to combat antisemitism through education, protection of houses of worship and support for those harmed by hate,” said Imam Dr. Tahir Kukaj, Imam of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center. “As an imam, I believe our communities must stand together so every New Yorker knows they belong.”

“As a multiracial movement of U.S. Jews, IfNotNow appreciates that the Mamdani Administration is framing its ‘Strategy to Combat Antisemitism’ as part and parcel of the broader imperative of confronting racism and all forms of hate, including Islamophobia,” said Ezra Oliff-Liberman, Political Director, IfNotNow Movement. “Establishment Jewish institutions have often tried to separate Jewish safety from that of other targeted groups — ultimately leaving us all more vulnerable. We know that the only true safety for Jews and all people is shared safety. We are especially excited by the Mamdani Administration’s investment in prevention and community engagement in this strategy — too often the essential work of prevention is under resourced when this is what will ultimately protect folks the most. Other leaders claiming to care about public safety while dis-investing in prevention and community-based measures should take note.”

“At this dangerous time, as toxic rhetoric and terrifying violence from both the political right and left threaten Jewish safety and dignity, I applaud this comprehensive, well-funded initiative to combat antisemitism as a tragically necessary model for the nation,” said Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, Board Co-Chair of Rabbis for Human Rights and Spiritual Leader and Co-Founder Lab/Shul NYC. “As the largest Jewish city in the world, New York must hold a standard of zero tolerance for intolerance, enforced from its top leadership to every visitor. Investing in education, prevention, empathy and tolerance is our best defense against dehumanization, and along with our rabbis and faith leaders, I look forward to partnering with MOCA and all city agencies to ensure that safety and dignity are the non-negotiable birthrights of every New Yorker and every human in this beloved city we call home.”

“President Biden’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism was appropriately widely praised for tackling hate on multiple fronts, and it’s encouraging to see the Mayor’s team seem to adapt that whole-of-government model into this first-ever municipal plan to address the needs of Jewish New Yorkers,” said Jonathan Kopp, Chair of J Street NYC. “This is a strong step in the right direction.”

“The Interfaith Center of New York welcomes Mayor Mamdani's Strategy to Combat Antisemitism as an increased commitment of resources and attention by municipal government across agencies,” said The Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer, Executive Director of the Interfaith Center of New York. “The recognition that Jewish New Yorkers must feel safe to worship, engage in civic life, celebrate their culture, and simply walk the streets of their city is an important step to combatting one of the oldest forms of hatred.”

“I thank the Mayor for his support for the Holocaust Memorial. The Holocaust did not happen in a vacuum. It happened because people did not stand up for their neighbors,” said Michael Nussbaum, President of the Queens Holocaust Memorial Garden Corporation. “Let us take this new opportunity and commitment by the administration and demonstrate to the world—we stand together as New Yorkers against hate and antisemitism.”

“New York should be a place of safe belonging for everyone. I’m glad that Mayor Mamdani is committed to addressing antisemitism and to ensuring that Jewish New Yorkers are safe in our City,” said the Rt. Rev. Matthew Heyd, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

“I commend Mayor Mamdani and his administration for taking this important step to combat antisemitism and ensure Jewish New Yorkers can live, worship and participate fully in our city with safety and dignity,” said Debbie Almontaser, Founder & CEO, Bridging Cultures Group, Inc. “As a Muslim American and longtime interfaith leader, I believe our communities are strongest when we stand together against antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and all forms of hate. The safety and dignity of one community strengthens the safety and belonging of us all.”

“I want to congratulate Mayor Mamdani and the Mayor’s Office on this bold and welcome set of actions for Jewish New Yorkers and Jewish life in New York City, my home. I’m thrilled that my Mayor is emerging as a national leader in turning a commitment to combating antisemitism into meaningful action,” said Libby Lenkinski, Founder and President of Albi. “As the founder of an arts and culture organization, and a big believer that culture is a driver of social change and political change, I’m particularly excited to see the Mayor’s investment in Jewish cultural institutions across the city. I’m especially looking forward to finding the next and best opportunities to partner with the new Center for New Jewish Culture in Central Brooklyn. I’m also deeply glad to see these investments come with no political litmus test attached. Jewish life and culture in New York are strongest when they have room to be vibrant, diverse and fully themselves, and I look forward to partnering with the Mayor’s Office to help make that possible.”

“At a time when antisemitism has left so many of us in the New York City Jewish community feeling anxious and vulnerable, I welcome the Mayor’s commitment to confronting it with seriousness and increased resources,” said Rabbi José Rolando Matalon, Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun. “Our safety requires not only protection from hatred and acts of violence, but education, engagement, and the celebration of Jewish life in all its diversity. For generations, Jews have helped shape this city, and we must ensure that New York remains a place where Jewish life can thrive. Our city is at its best when every community can live openly, safely, and with a deep sense of belonging.”

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