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By: Fern Sidman
Mayor Eric Adams of New York City has established the city’s inaugural Jewish Advisory Council, consisting of 37 influential leaders from the diverse Jewish community, as was recently reported in The Jewish Week. The council’s first meeting is scheduled to take place at City Hall on Monday evening. Comprising members from each borough, the council represents various denominations and Jewish organizations, including synagogues, non-profits, schools, and community centers. Its primary focus will be on addressing issues affecting Jewish New Yorkers, such as public safety, quality of life, and education, while ensuring that Jewish communities throughout the city are connected to available resources and services.
The formation of this council is a significant step for New York City, as it marks the first time such a group has been convened by the city itself, according to the report in The Jewish Week. The decision to establish the council comes in response to a dramatic rise in reports of anti-Semitism. According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), anti-Semitic hate crimes in the city saw a 39% increase from 2021 to 2022, although they have been lower during the same period in 2023. The ADL also reported a 36% nationwide increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes during the same timeframe, as indicated in The Jewish Week report.
Residents of predominantly Orthodox neighborhoods have expressed concerns about street attacks that appear to be motivated by anti-Semitism. Additionally, critics of the City University of New York (CUNY) system have raised complaints about anti-Israel activities on various campuses, which they argue have crossed the line into anti-Jewish harassment.
The establishment of the mayor’s advisory council is seen as a significant commitment by the city to understand the needs of the Jewish community, amplify the voices of different Jewish communities, and address issues of anti-Semitism. The Jewish Week reported that Rabbi Rachel Ain, senior rabbi at Sutton Place Synagogue, views the council as an opportunity to highlight the positive aspects of the Jewish community while also addressing any negative issues. She emphasizes the importance of representation from diverse parts of the Jewish community on the council.
Leading the council as chairperson is Joel Eisedorfer, a senior advisor to Mayor Adams and the first Hasidic Jew to hold a senior staff position in the administration. The Jewish Week also reported that other council members include prominent figures such as Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue, Rabbi Joshua Davidson of Temple Emanu-El, Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Kehilath Jeshurun, political activist Devorah Halberstam, and CEO of Commonpoint Queens, a social service agency. Also included are Rabbi Danielle Ellman, Alexander Rapaport (CEO of Masbia Food Pantry), David Greenfield (CEO of the Met Council on Jewish Poverty), Rabbi Joseph Beyda (head of school at Yeshiva of Flatbush), Hindy Poupko (deputy chief planning officer at UJA-Federation), and Jack Kliger (CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage).
Rabbi Joanna Samuels, CEO of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, expressed her enthusiasm for ensuring that the diverse Jewish community of the city has a seat at the table when important decisions are made. According to The Jewish Week report, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, highlighted the significance of unity and diversity of thought as the community confronts present challenges and writes a new chapter in the city’s history.
