NYC Mayor Mamdani Unveils Antisemitism Plan Amid Jewish Leader Criticism

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a 35-page municipal strategy to combat antisemitism, pledging over $26 million in new hate-crime prevention funding and expanded security for Jewish institutions. The plan includes $6.4 million for community organizations, $2 million for a Queens Holocaust Memorial Garden, and $2.5 million for a Brooklyn Jewish cultural center.

Major Jewish organizations, including the UJA-Federation of New York and the American Jewish Committee, acknowledged positive elements but said the plan fails to address the mayor's rhetoric demonizing Israel. They argued that such rhetoric inevitably leads to the targeting of Jewish New Yorkers.

“Money can't buy values.”

Israeli Consul General Ofir Akunis stated that money cannot buy values and demanded the mayor readopt the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, which Mamdani overturned on his first day in office. Akunis also called for the mayor to condemn slogans like "from the river to the sea."

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue said the plan will not work as long as Mamdani accuses Israel of genocide. Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz criticized the funding allocation, noting only $1 million is dedicated specifically to security while millions go to community initiatives he labeled "pork barrel politics."

NYPD statistics cited by the mayor show Jewish residents constitute roughly 12% of the city's population but account for more than half of confirmed hate crimes. Mamdani declared Jewish New Yorkers "should feel cherished and celebrated" and vowed City Hall would lead the change.