(New York) New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday appointed Phylisa Wisdom, a figure in the city’s liberal Jewish community, to head the office to combat anti-Semitism set up by his predecessor, the municipality announced.
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The first Muslim mayor of New York and a very critical voice of Israel – which he described as an “apartheid regime” – the new councilor has been accused by part of the Jewish community of fueling the rise of anti-Semitism through certain of his positions, something he denies.
“Day after day (…) we will work together to eradicate anti-Semitism and build a New York City where Jewish New Yorkers are safe, respected and free,” writes Zohran Mamdani, quoted in a press release.
Anti-Semitic acts jumped 182% between January 2025 and January 2026, according to recent figures from the New York Police Department, which has the largest Jewish community in the United States.
Last week, a man drove his car into the doors of an Orthodox Jewish building in Brooklyn, causing no injuries, and a rabbi was attacked in Queens. The previous week, two teenagers were prosecuted for painting swastikas in a park.
The office to combat anti-Semitism was set up by the previous mayor, Eric Adams, in May 2025, who presented it as an emergency response to the rise in these acts.
Phylisa Wisdom, 37, most recently led the New York Jewish Agenda, a group representing the voices of liberal and progressive Jews in the city.
“New York has long been a symbol of hope for the Jewish community. This administration will continue to place the safety of Jews and their right to call home at the heart of its actions,” she said.
