In a historic move to confront a dramatic rise in antisemitism, New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced the launch of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism — the first office of its kind in a major U.S. city. The move comes amid mounting concern over hate crimes targeting Jewish residents, who were the victims in 62 percent of all reported hate crimes during the first quarter of 2025.

“Since day one, our administration made a commitment to all New Yorkers to keep them safe and protect against hate in all forms,” Mayor Adams stated. “The Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism will be the first of its kind in a major city across the nation, and will tackle antisemitism in all of its forms, working across city agencies to ensure Jewish New Yorkers are protected and can thrive here in the five boroughs. Antisemitism is an attack not only on Jewish New Yorkers, but on the very idea of New York City as a place where people from all backgrounds can live together.”

The office will be helmed by Moshe Davis, who previously served as the city’s Jewish Liaison in the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs. He will lead an inter-agency taskforce aimed at identifying and combating antisemitism through legal, educational, and policy initiatives. Davis will also assemble a commission of Jewish leaders from across the city to advise and oversee the office’s initiatives.

“Combating antisemitism requires a sledgehammer approach: coordinated, unapologetic, and immediate,” said Davis. “Mayor Adams has been a modern-day Maccabee, standing up for the Jewish community, and, with the establishment of this office, he is strengthening his resolve to ensure Jewish New Yorkers thrive in our city.”

First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro echoed the urgency of the effort: “In the city with the largest Jewish population in the world — antisemitism is unacceptable and we have to do more to address it. So, New York City will lead the way.”

The announcement comes after the Anti-Defamation League reported a record number of antisemitic incidents in 2024, with New York state ranking the highest. The new office builds on a series of initiatives by the Adams administration, including the NYPD’s intensified focus on hate crimes, the “Breaking Bread, Building Bonds” community initiative, and the Jewish Advisory Council.

Fred Kreizman, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, praised the selection of Davis to lead the office. “His passionate advocacy, deep understanding of community needs, and proven ability to coordinate across agencies make him an exceptional leader for this important initiative.”

Support for the initiative poured in from all boroughs and branches of city government.

Bronx DA Darcel D. Clark called it “a step forward in the fight against antisemitism,” while Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson declared, “This historic step sends a clear message that hate has no place in our city.”

Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez added, “We look forward to working collaboratively with the new Office to Combat Antisemitism to ensure accountability for bias-motivated offenses.”

Queens DA Melinda Katz pointed to the October 7 attack on Israel as a turning point, saying, “We saw an alarming uptick in anti-Jewish hate crimes… This office will expand upon our ongoing work to investigate and prosecute these cases.”

Staten Island DA Michael E. McMahon also voiced support: “Unfortunately, antisemitism is not just a problem of the past – it remains a very real and pressing threat today. This is unacceptable.”

State Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz, who recently passed legislation on masked harassment, stated, “Our Jewish friends, neighbors, and all New Yorkers deserve to feel safe and secure. Fortunately, New York is taking steps in the right direction to work towards this goal.”

Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar affirmed, “This office… will be laser-focused on stopping the scourge of antisemitism through an all-hands-on-deck approach. I look forward to partnering with this new and important office to stand up to hate.”

With New York’s nearly 1 million Jewish residents increasingly concerned about their safety, Mayor Adams’ bold step is both symbolic and strategic — positioning the city as a national leader in the fight against antisemitism.