By: Ariella Haviv

In a powerful and timely statement issued Thursday, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) urged all candidates in New York City’s increasingly volatile mayoral race to clearly and publicly reject antisemitic rhetoric while committing to policies that safeguard the rights and security of the city’s Jewish community. The appeal, reported by VIN News, arrives amid an unprecedented spike in antisemitic activity in the five boroughs, which the ADL has described as the worst in the nation.

“At this time of record antisemitism, our country needs leaders at all levels who are unequivocal in condemning this oldest of hatreds,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL, in a sharply worded statement quoted by VIN News. “We call on all candidates to disavow harmful rhetoric and publicly commit to standing with the Jewish community.”

The backdrop to the ADL’s call is an audit revealing that New York City recorded 976 antisemitic incidents in 2024 alone — more than any other U.S. metropolitan area. The numbers reflect a worrying trend that has accelerated since the October 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel, sparking global tensions and a spike in antisemitic expressions cloaked in anti-Zionist language.

According to the information provided in the VIN News report, the ADL’s statement referenced several campaign slogans and ideologies circulating within the city’s political discourse that it views as dangerous. These include the controversial call to “Globalize the Intifada,” support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, and the widely chanted slogan “From the river to the sea,” which Greenblatt has previously described as “a call for the erasure of the Jewish state” and a denial of Jewish self-determination.

“Antisemitic rhetoric should have no place in our electoral discourse,” Greenblatt asserted. “We need to know where the candidates stand — not just in statements, but in action.”

The ADL has laid out a concrete framework for mayoral hopefuls to demonstrate their commitment to combating antisemitism. As reported by VIN News, the organization is urging candidates to ensure that Jews of all levels of observance can live and worship freely, without fear or intimidation, in synagogues, yeshivas, and public spaces, as well as  actively challenging and disassociating from language that demonizes Jews or Israelis, whether through slogans, social media, or political alliances.

The organization is also asking candidates to call for the bolstering of security efforts for  Jewish institutions, including synagogues, schools, and community centers, while ensuring that civil liberties are protected as well as encouraging citywide educational initiatives to counter antisemitic myths and foster cross-cultural understanding.

The report at VIN News noted that Greenblatt’s call was not issued in a vacuum but rather in response to growing alarm among Jewish leaders over the normalization of antisemitic ideas within the progressive flank of city politics. While no specific candidate was named, the ADL’s statement appeared to respond to recent public displays of solidarity with groups and slogans associated with violent resistance against Israel, many of which have been accused of invoking classic antisemitic tropes.

The ADL, founded in 1913 in the wake of the lynching of Jewish factory superintendent Leo Frank, has long positioned itself as the nation’s leading anti-hate watchdog. As VIN News reported, the organization has monitored antisemitic incidents for over a century and has expanded its purview in recent years to combat other forms of bigotry and extremism. Nonetheless, its core mission remains “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all,” a point emphasized again in Thursday’s statement.

Community leaders and advocacy groups have welcomed the ADL’s proactive stance. In conversations with VIN News, several Jewish leaders underscored the urgency of the moment. “This isn’t just about political slogans — it’s about the safety of our families, our synagogues, and our way of life,” said one Brooklyn rabbi, who requested anonymity for fear of political retaliation. “The city needs a mayor who understands that.”

While New York City has long been celebrated for its cultural diversity and Jewish heritage, the VIN News report highlighted how recent events have laid bare simmering tensions and deepened societal divisions. Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods, in particular, have seen a spike in harassment and vandalism, leading many residents to question whether municipal authorities have taken the issue seriously.

With the city’s mayoral race poised to shape the direction of governance for the next four years, the ADL’s demand introduces a potent litmus test for candidates seeking to win over the city’s vast and diverse electorate. “Leadership in a moment like this requires more than platitudes,” Greenblatt said. “It requires a moral backbone and a clear plan.”

As the campaign season intensifies, VIN News reported that all eyes will be on how candidates respond to the ADL’s challenge. Voters, particularly in Jewish communities, will be listening carefully — not just for condemnation of antisemitism, but for tangible policies to address it.