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Edited by: Fern Sidman

On the second day of his first trip to Israel as mayor of New York City, Eric Adams sough to strike a delicate political balance. His itinerary included meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders of Israel’s anti-judicial reform protest movement, a testament to the complexity of his mission, as was reported by the New York Times.

Tuesday morning saw Mayor Adams engage with protest leaders, although specific details of the meeting remained undisclosed, and media coverage was restricted. The NYT report indicated that this rendezvous was followed by a private meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu later in the day, a traditional step taken by New York mayors during their visits to Israel.

Also on Tuesday, Adams paid heartfelt respects at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, and a newly unveiled exhibit named “The Book of Names,” which lists the names of 4.8 million Jews killed during the Holocaust, the NYT report said. Adams laid a wreath at the Hall of Remembrance, reflecting on the responsibility of preventing such atrocities from happening again.

As was reported by Israel National News (Arutz Sheva) both Netanyahu and Adams met at the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem, later on Tuesday afternoon. The sides discussed the unlimited possibilities for cooperation between New York City and the State of Israel in the fields of technology, innovation, and tourism.

Mayor Adams expressed his appreciation and love for the State of Israel, as was indicated in the A7 report.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said: “You’re a great friend of Israel. You live in a city which is the intellectual, cultural, and financial hub of the world – and we’re sort of another hub. And I think if you combine the hubs together we will be better for it.”

Following the meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mayor Adams viewed a food and innovation FoodTech exhibition devoted to alternative proteins.

Arutz Sheva also reported that Israel is among the leading countries in alternative proteins and second, only to the US, in private investment in this field; therefore, the two countries have much in common.

Netanyahu and Adams were presented with innovative food technologies by Israeli start-ups in order to promote productive bilateral cooperation in the field, according to the INN report. The Prime Minister and the Mayor tried various food products including cultured steak, cultured honey, and vegetarian kebabs and hamburgers.

Mayor Adams was accompanied by the Deputy Mayor, his senior adviser, the Deputy Police Commissioner, and additional officials. INN also reported that participating for the Israeli side were the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, the Prime Minister’s Office Director General, the Director of the National Economic Council, and additional officials.

A7 also reported that while the content and substance of the discussions held between Netanyahu and Adams were not revealed to the media, the New York City mayor stated after his meeting with Netanyahu that he does not believe that it is his place to interfere in matters of internal Israeli politics during his visit to the Jewish State this week.

“Israel will determine their destiny,” Adams said during a briefing to reporters on Tuesday evening, INN reported.

He explained that he met with anti-judicial reform protestors because he believes “it was important to hear from both sides,” adding that he “did not give my opinion one way or another.”

“I wouldn’t want others to tell me how to run” New York City, he noted, according to the A7 report. “We should all watch history play out … not to interfere, but to learn. I think the people of Israel should make the determination of how to move forward.”

“Democracy is not easy. It is only by confronting our differences that we can emerge stronger,” he said.

INN also reported that Mayor Adams thanked “the people of Israel” for the “extremely warm” reception and hospitality he has received, and stated that New York City and the State of Israel have “an unbreakable bond … and we are going to continue to build on that.”

Adams spoke of his visit to the Western Wall (Kotel) on Tuesday,  where his thoughts were of his mother, who had always wanted to come to Israel. In a brief interview with The New York Times, he expressed his thoughts about visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and standing near the stone believed to have held Jesus.

In a piece penned for The Jerusalem Post, Mayor Adams acknowledged the pivotal moment Israel was facing and the necessity of navigating through contentious issues, as was reported by the NYT.  As a representative of a diverse city, he stressed the significance of confronting differences and engaging in challenging dialogues for the sake of a stronger democracy.

Also on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an hour-long meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen, Binyamin Regional Council Governor Israel Ganz and Mayor Adams, as was reported by INN.  This meeting was a follow-up of the meeting between Ganz and Adams at the Celebrate Israel Parade in NY, two months ago.

Adams expressed keen interest in developments in Binyamin and the growth of the Jewish towns in the region. The A7 report noted that Ganz and Adams discussed the possibility of cooperating on educational and tourism projects. Ganz also invited Adams to the annual Bible Marathon, held in Binyamin, and gave the New York Mayor a personalized marathon T-shirt and a pin bearing the Binyamin emblem, the report added.

Mayor Adams asked Ganz to relay his good wishes and words of encouragement to the residents of Binyamin and all the towns of Judea and Samaria, as was reported by A7. The two leaders agreed to tour Binyamin on their next meeting, to visit the Biblical heartland and understand today’s realities.

The TOI reported that progressive Jewish lobbying organization J Street slammed the Ganz meeting, tweeting that “Mayor Adams said his trip would strengthen ties with Israel,” but “pledging to boost settlements threatens Israel’s democratic future and undermines its security – not to mention the impact on Palestinian rights and freedoms.”

In a statement released later in the day, the group said that “it is completely tone-deaf and extremely irresponsible for the Mayor to pledge to boost settlements – which are illegal under international law – through economic cooperation with NYC.”

With regard to civil technology, Adams said he met with Israeli technology leaders on Tuesday, including a Bank of Israel-hosted gathering of tech company representatives, who shared thoughts on how Adams can remove barriers to help Israeli startups grow in New York City, the Times of Israel reported.

“We’re going to immediately implement a dialogue and come up with a blueprint for how to expand our tech startups,” the mayor said.

On Wednesday, he said that he plans to visit Israel’s police academy, where he expects to discuss technological tools “to make our city safe,” as was reported by the TOI.

Upon arriving in Israel on Monday, Adams wasted no time in engaging with leaders from diverse religious backgrounds, including Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze representatives, as was reported by the Times of Israel.  The central themes of the discussions were combating anti-Semitism and promoting tolerance in an increasingly tense global landscape.

A man of faith himself, Mayor Adams emphasized the urgency of translating religious principles into tangible actions, given the rising tensions worldwide. The TOI also reported that in a poignant address, he urged individuals to evolve from mere worshippers to practitioners who actively implement the teachings of their faith in their daily lives. “What we learn in our churches, synagogues, and mosques cannot remain in the sterilized environment of our places of faith,” he asserted, according to the TOI report.

New York City, with its vast and diverse population, is home to the world’s largest Jewish metropolitan community. Mayor Adams’ visit holds particular significance as the city continues to grapple with incidents of anti-Semitic violence, recording over 100 hate crimes against Jews in the first half of 2023, as was noted in the TOI report.  With his background as a former police captain and an advocate for enhanced public safety, Adams has forged strong connections with various Jewish communities in the city.

While addressing the Jewish leaders, Mayor Adams also recognized Israel’s complex situation, especially concerning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing efforts to reshape the judiciary’s role. However, the mayor’s focus remained on broader global challenges that demand a united effort, the TOI report added. Adams emphasized the solemn responsibility shared by leaders and people of faith to mend societies and promote healing.

Interfaith leaders echoed the mayor’s sentiments, stressing the need for understanding and tolerance. The TOI report said that Sheikh Khalid Abu Ras, a prominent Muslim interfaith leader, expressed the challenge of Israel’s diverse mosaic of views and its potential for fostering a more harmonious society if handled with care. Father Aghan Gogchian, representing the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate of Jerusalem, emphasized the futility of returning hate with hate, drawing inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words that only light can dispel darkness, the report added.

Natan Sharansky, a renowned human rights advocate and former Israeli minister, highlighted the importance of coexistence within Jerusalem’s intricate fabric, while Rabbi Avital Hochstein, a leader in progressive Jewish education, advocated for religious pluralism, according to the report.

Also on Monday, Adams arrived at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital to visit the ailing Rabbi of the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Hasidic sect of Meah Shearim, as was reported by Arutz Sheva.

The two discussed the state of the Jewish community in the United States and education in haredi institutions in New York in a rare meeting between the Rebbe and a political leader at the hospital.

Adams wrote on Twitter after the visit: “Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov Kohn is the embodiment of strength and perseverance. His faith and wisdom are unstoppable. Get well soon, my friend.”

The Rabbi was taken to the hospital after doctors discovered an infection in the kidneys in recent weeks and it appears that these are not working properly – which makes it difficult for him to continue his work due to extreme weakness, the A7 report added.

The INN report noted that the visit was initiated by haredi businessman Ephraim Fink, who belongs to the Hasidic group and is an associate of Adams’.

The mayor’s trip to Israel was sponsored by the UJA-Federation of NY and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.  Prior to the mayor’s trip, the JCRC stated that the trip “will showcase innovative programs and initiatives supported by the New York Jewish community.”

David G. Greenfield, the Orthodox leader of Met Council, a Jewish nonprofit in New York, noted the delicate balancing act that Mayor Adams faced during this trip, as was reported by the NYT. Highlighting the mayor’s representation of a city home to numerous Jews and Holocaust survivors, Greenfield affirmed the appropriateness of Adams’ meeting with the Israeli prime minister. He also acknowledged the mayor’s engagement with leaders striving to negotiate judicial reform, the NYT report added.

Back in New York, Adams has faced significant challenges related to the influx of migrants from the southern border, as has been widely reported. Polls by Siena College revealed that 82 percent of New York voters view the migrant crisis as a “serious problem,” with 47 percent disapproving of the mayor’s handling of the issue. Despite these challenges, Adams’ commitment to public safety and his efforts against rising anti-Semitic attacks in New York have remained consistent.

Visits to Israel have been customary for New York City mayors, offering a high-profile opportunity to demonstrate solidarity with the Jewish community, the NYT reported.  Adams follows in the footsteps of his predecessors, including Bill de Blasio and Michael R. Bloomberg, who engaged with Israeli leaders during their terms.