Thursday, July 31, 2025
Principal of high school students who hurled abuse at Jewish students visiting Melbourne Museum breaks her silence
The principal of high school students who targeted young children on a school excursion in Melbourne has launched an investigation into the "completely deplorable" behaviour.
Abhorrent abuse was hurled at a group of Jewish primary school students from Mount Scopus Memorial College during an excursion to Melbourne Museum.
The year 5 students, aged between 10 and 11, were called "dirty Jews" by high school students, amid chants of "free, free Palestine".
The teenagers were from Gladstone Park Secondary College in Melbourne's outer northwest, the Herald Sun revealed.
Principal Veronica Hoy called out the behaviour from some of her teenage students as "deeply traumatic and unacceptable".
"The behaviour of a group of some of our students at Melbourne Museum was completely deplorable," she told the Herald Sun.
"Racism has no place in or outside of the classroom."
The incident outraged families of the young students, with one parent saying on social media that his son had been called a "dirty Jew", and labelled the act "pure, unadulterated antisemitism".
"Today, my 10-year-old son went on an excursion to the Melbourne Museum," he said.
"What should have been a day of learning and culture turned into a terrifying experience when he and his classmates were targeted by high school students from a different school.
"They were tapped on the shoulder and then chanted at by these 16- and 17-year-old students 'free Palestine' and then, as they walked away, were called 'dirty Jews' and other racist comments.
"This is not a political debate; this is pure, unadulterated antisemitism and hate."
Ms Hoy will take responsibility for pursuing an investigation into what happened.
She added this incident "does not represent our values as a school".
"I will also be reviewing this incident with my leadership team as we develop a broader response to addressing racism in our school, in line with the Department of Education's new policy on this," Ms Hoy said.
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Wednesday, July 30, 2025
DOJ Finds UCLA Violated Civil Rights of Jewish Students
The Department of Justice said on July 29 that the University of California, Los Angeles, violated civil rights law by failing to address campus anti-Semitism.
Specifically, UCLA violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act "by acting with deliberate indifference in creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students," said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a July 29 statement.
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Thursday, July 24, 2025
Arab to pay haredi man 100,000 NIS for pulling sideburns
The Jerusalem Juvenile Magistrate's Court has ordered an Arab minor to pay NIS 100,000 in compensation to a Hasidic Jewish man he assaulted in Jerusalem's Old City. The ruling comes following a civil lawsuit filed by the victim, in which the defendant did not present a defense.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on Hagai Street as the 40-year-old Jewish man, a Jerusalem resident and father of ten, was on his way to pray at the Western Wall. The assailant reportedly approached him, forcefully pulled his sideburns, and fled the scene.
The plaintiff described the attack as a serious antisemitic incident, stating he felt targeted due to his Hasidic appearance. Traditional Hasidic appearance frequently includes long and carefully arranged sideburns. He reported experiencing physical pain, emotional distress, and ongoing fear as a result of the assault.
The minor was previously convicted in a criminal case under a plea deal, which included a one-month prison sentence and an obligation to pay restitution. The civil case now adds an additional financial penalty.
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After Fallsburg egg-throwing incident, we must all stand against antisemitism
When eggs were allegedly thrown at Hasidic Jews standing in front of a synagogue in the eastern Sullivan County hamlet of Woodbourne and walking along nearby Route 42 in the Town of Fallsburg, the official reaction to the recent incident was as it should have been: swift and unequivocal.
"It is outrageous that in Sullivan County Jews are being attacked at or near their house of worship solely because of their religion," said lawyer Jacob Billig of the newly formed Sullivan County Coalition Against Antisemitism.
"Clearly antisemitic ... inexcusable in every way," said Sullivan County Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz.
"I ... unequivocally denounce these hateful actions," said Ramone Wilson, executive director of the Sullivan County Human Rights Commission.
"Antisemitism has no place in our community or anywhere …" said Assembly member Paula Kay. "I urge everyone to speak out with me against antisemitism whenever and wherever it appears."
But in normally sleepy Sullivan, where the county's population of about 79,000 triples in the summer thanks in large part to the influx of Hasidim, the public condemnation wasn't as widespread as it should have been. In fact, some comments were despicable — focusing on the Hasidim and their behavior in Sullivan rather than the antisemitic acts of egg throwing. Unfortunately, these online comments reflect the sentiments of many Jews and non-Jews in Sullivan, many of whom stress they are not antisemitic.
"Can you blame someone for throwing eggs at a terrible driver? Not saying I condone it, but … ," wrote one man.
"Everything they do is in the name of religion," writes another. "Anything happens to them, it's antisemitic?"
If you live in Sullivan like I do, you know main roads like Routes 17, 17B, 42 and 55 are way more crowded in July and August. So are stores like Walmart, which is why many locals shop on the Jewish Sabbath, Saturday. And because the Hasidim are so noticeable, with long beards and black and white clothes, they stand out — which makes it easier to blame them for just about anything, even if there are plenty of bad drivers and rude shoppers who aren't Hasidic.
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Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Ukraine to designate Uman grave of Breslov rabbi as national heritage monument
Ukraine decides to designate the grave of Hasidic master Rabbi Nachman of Breslov as a national heritage monument, says Ukraine's Embassy in Israel.
The Uman complex is a major pilgrimage site around Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, attracting tens of thousands of Jewish worshippers, even during the ongoing war with Russia.
The site will receive "the highest level of state protection," says the embassy.
Ukraine's Ambassador Yevhen Korniychuk says in a statement that the decision will "strengthen bilateral cultural and religious ties between the two countries."
"The national heritage monument status proves the significance and importance of the Jewish culture as part of the national culture in a broad sense in Ukraine," he continues.
"In these dark times, when the Russian army deliberately attacks civilian infrastructure, including unique religious and historical sites, Ukraine puts enormous effort to preserve and protect every site of cultural or spiritual importance," says Korniychuk.
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Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Hassidic group bans use of AI
The Karlin-Stolin Hasidic community has issued new guidelines significantly limiting the use of artificial intelligence, especially among its younger members.
Released by the Hasidic Committee for Media Guidance and Advice last weekend, the rules include a total ban on teens independently interacting with AI systems. The committee described AI as technology "based on databases of billions of documents and various contents found across global computer networks," and warned that its rapid evolution demands extreme caution.
For adults, the guidelines outline strict conditions: AI may only be used to obtain specific, necessary information—not for entertainment or casual inquiry. Usage should be limited in duration, and any results should be reviewed critically, especially for accuracy and alignment with religious values.
A strong warning was issued against seeking halachic (Jewish legal) guidance from AI tools. The committee noted that such systems may fabricate sources or cite non-existent texts.
Young married men and their families, particularly those under 25, are advised to completely avoid smartphones, even filtered ones, unless absolutely necessary. The committee cautions that these devices could negatively affect their spiritual and personal well-being.
Teenagers face the most stringent restrictions: they are entirely prohibited from using AI tools on their own, whether by text or voice, even if parents are present. This ban applies equally to boys, girls, and seminary students. In cases where AI use is needed, parents are expected to consult the system themselves and share only vetted responses with their children.
For seminary graduates engaged in professional or academic studies, limited AI use is permitted, but only under parental oversight and strictly for educational or work-related purposes.
The guidelines conclude by urging community members to stay vigilant against the potential spiritual harm of AI, stressing that these restrictions are meant to protect individuals and families from being "swept away and dragged after vanity."
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Thursday, July 17, 2025
‘He needs Hasidic voters’: Mayor Adams’ campaign gambit on a Brooklyn bike lane
A legal battle over a three-block-long bike lane in a predominantly Orthodox Jewish Brooklyn neighborhood has become a central issue in Mayor Eric Adams' re-election campaign.
The mayor in June ordered the transportation department to move the newly installed bike lane on Bedford Avenue between Willoughby and Flushing avenues away from the curb, where cyclists are protected by parked cars, and into the middle of the street. The directive now sits in limbo after a state appellate judge temporarily blocked the move on Tuesday.
Critics of the mayor chastised it as a political move aimed at garnering political support from Hasidic Jewish voters in South Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuyvesant, who have protested cycling infrastructure for decades, citing concerns over safety as well as a general preference to give cars priority on streets in their area. It comes as Adams, who skipped the Democratic primary in June and plans to run on a ballot line in November called either "Safe&Affordable" or "EndAntisemitism," rushes to build a coalition large enough to compete in the general election.
" The mayor needs Jewish voters, he needs Hasidic voters. He's squaring off against [former Gov.] Andrew Cuomo, who did really well with Hasidic voters during the primary, he's obviously squaring off against [Zohran] Mamdani, who did not do as well with Jewish Hasidic voters," said Chris Coffey, CEO of the political consulting firm Tusk Strategies who worked on several campaigns, including ones for former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Andrew Yang. "He's looking to use this as one of the issues that galvanizes support."
Cuomo won 72% of the first-round votes in the election district that encompasses most of the bike lane.
" I don't think that the Satmars in Williamsburg are going to base their decision for mayor based on this bike lane," added Coffey. (Coffey also advised Cuomo's Democratic primary bid, but his company has since vowed to support Mamdani.)
Adams ordered the change less than a month after a 3-year-old girl was struck by an e-bike rider in the bike lane while crossing the street mid-block.
Cycling advocates sued Adams shortly after he ordered the changes to the bike lane, arguing it was a "major transportation project" that required notice and review from community leaders. "After several dangerous incidents — many of which involved children — the Adams administration listened to the community's concerns and moved to reconfigure the bike lane to its original model while still maintaining safety measures," said mayoral spokesperson Sophia Askari.
City Councilmember Lincoln Restler, who represents the neighborhood, said Adams disregarded the bike lane's safety benefits, noting its installation correlated with a reduction in car crashes along the corridor. The transportation department acknowledged as much in court filings in the lawsuit that aims to prevent the bike lane from being moved.
" It's nakedly obvious what this is and it's really sad," said Restler. " Eric Adams' decision to rip out the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane and send cyclists back into three lanes of vehicular traffic is purely political."
Still, many members of the area's Hasidic community said they were elated by the decision.
" It's dangerous. Everyone is happy that they're moving it," said Mike Joel, 23. " I think the kids are supposed to be safer than the bikers."
Adams' push to remove the bike lane is not an original political idea. The same bike lane stirred controversy in 2009 after Bloomberg won a third term. In December of that year, he agreed to remove cyclists' protections along 14 blocks of Bedford Avenue, citing concerns from local residents.
Danny Pearlstein, spokesperson for the transit advocacy group Riders Alliance, protested against Bloomberg's removal of the bike lane, which sparked a culture war in Brooklyn.
"Protesters at the time promised a naked bike ride through the community," he said.
Like Adams this year, Bloomberg ran as an independent during his 2009 re-election. "There were various parts of the margin of victory, but one of them was certainly the Jewish community in Williamsburg," said Pearlstein. "And the mayor's political team knew that."
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Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Fearing circumcision crackdown, Jewish leaders launch EU campaign defending ritual
More than 50 prominent Jewish leaders and rabbis from across Europe have signed a letter to the president of the European Commission defending the Jewish rite of circumcision as part of a new campaign to defend the tradition.
The letter, spearheaded by the European Jewish Association, was sent as a response to a series of raids conducted in Belgium in May looking for people illegally conducting ritual Jewish circumcisions.
That raid, in which police confiscated instruments needed to perform the procedure and demanded a list of all infants circumcised in the past year, "echoed one of the darkest chapters in European history," the letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says. The European Commission is the primary executive arm of the European Union.
On May 14, police conducted raids on three locations in Antwerp to investigate reports that said the brit milah ritual was being performed on Jewish baby boys by unlicensed mohalim (people who perform circumcision) instead of licensed doctors.
While the law does not specifically regulate Jewish ritual circumcision, Belgium requires that all medical procedures be performed by a licensed doctor.
No European country has laws banning circumcision, but there are fears that rising antisemitism could lead to such legislation in the future.
"Banning circumcision would mean an end to Jewish life in countries with such law, which is contradictory to the European Commission's aim at fostering Jewish life in the EU," the letter says.
"Circumcision is much more than a key tenet of Judaism. It is what defines the Jewish male, a religious commandment. It represents a core pillar of our faith and a practice carried out over millennia without incidents by meticulous and highly-trained Mohalim."
Medical research shows that circumcised men have a lower risk of urinary tract infection, a lower risk of penile cancer, a lower risk of penile infections, and a lower risk of some sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, the European Jewish Association notes.
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Wednesday, July 09, 2025
Jewish Guest Assaulted, Video Goes Viral
A rare act of antisemitic aggression has stirred concern in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, after two women assaulted a visiting Jewish man from Israel by knocking his traditional Sabbath hat off his head, laughing, and making antisemitic remarks — all while filming the incident and later uploading it to Tik-Tok.
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The victim was a guest of Rabbi Avraham Bleich, son of Ukraine's Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Yaakov Bleich. The incident took place over two months ago, as the two walked home from a Friday night meal. At the time, the women ran off after the attack, and the matter seemed to fade.
But last week, the assailants uploaded the video to social media — where it quickly went viral in Ukraine, amassing over 2 million views. The popularity of the clip prompted immediate concern among the Jewish community, fearing copycat attacks.
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Tuesday, July 08, 2025
U.S. Department of Homeland Security allocates $94 million to combat rising attacks on Jewish institutions
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently distributed $94 million to Jewish faith-based organizations to help respond to the nationwide increase in anti-Semitism following Hamas's Oct. 7 attacks against Israel.
"This money, part of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, will be used to help these organizations harden their defenses against attacks," DHS announced on June 27. The agency described how the award is in response to terrorist attacks against Israel supporters, including the recent attack in Boulder, Colorado.
The agency also cited a report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which identified a "record high" of anti-Semitic incidents during 2024, "marking a 344% increase over the past five years."
The money is dedicated to protecting "Jewish faith-based institutions from further attacks," DHS explained in a press release.
The money is part of a security grant program under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Its purpose is to aid physical security upgrades, such as cameras and barriers, as reported by Fox News.
In total, the grant program has around $220 million, according to The Jerusalem Post. The remaining funds have yet to be distributed.
"DHS is working to put a stop to the deeply disturbing rise in antisemitic attacks across the United States," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a press release.
"That this money is necessary at all is tragic. Antisemitic violence has no place in this country," McLaughlin continued. "However, under President Trump and Secretary Noem's leadership, we are going to do everything in our power to make sure that Jewish people in the United States can live free of the threat of violence and terrorism."
In a statement to Jewish Insider, Lauren Wolman, director of federal policy at ADL, praised DHS for the grant award but said that the job "isn't done."
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Monday, July 07, 2025
Antisemitism Bill in NJ Delayed Despite Assurances to Jewish Leaders That It Would Pass
New Jersey has more Jews than all but three states. That's why many expected the Garden State to join 37 other states that have already done what the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey Jason Shames calls "an issue critical to the safety and security of New Jerseyans": ratifying a bill that codifies the definition of antisemitism as defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
The New Jersey Assembly had the chance to do this last month, but decided on June 23 to table a vote on the matter. This decision came as a surprise to Jewish community leaders, who were assured by some unnamed lawmakers that the bill would pass, said Robin Freedman-Kramer, CEO of the Jewish Federation of West-Central New Jersey.
"We had been told behind closed doors that there was no doubt that the bill would pass," she said.
Freedman-Kramer said that lawmakers did not give a reason for delaying the vote, although those who opposed its ratification cited the fact that it could effectively criminalize anti-Israel protests and sentiments.
The bill says that the standard definition of antisemitism used by numerous governments across the country and world includes "discriminatory anti-Israel acts that cross the line into anti-Semitism," as well as other antisemitic actions like Holocaust denial. Examples given by the IHRA include drawing comparisons of contemporary Israel policy to that of the Nazis, holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the state of Israel, denying the Jewish people's right to self-determination by claiming the existence of Israel is racist and accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel or the alleged priorities of worldwide Judaism than to the interests of their own nations.
"We feel like with such a large Jewish population and so much antisemitism that law enforcement needs a definition to work from to be able to say, 'This is antisemitism and this is not antisemitism,' so we're trying to give them the tool that is practically universal and acceptable to use in helping them do their jobs better and protecting this very large Jewish community in our state," Freedman-Kramer said.
The Anti-Defamation League reported in April that there were 719 total incidents of antisemitism in New Jersey in 2024. That was a 13% increase from 2023 and the third-highest total for any state last year.
"Antisemitism isn't going to solve itself. Unless New Jersey legislators decide to take the first step to addressing antisemitism — defining it — they are not part of the solution. Like all groups, Jews must be the ones who define their own experiences with oppression.
Rather, through inaction and delay, the legislators will be part of the problem, abandoning the safety of large segments of New Jersey residents," said Avi Posnick, the Northeast regional director for StandWithUs.
When the vote's delay was announced, Jewish community leaders who were in attendance walked out in protest of the decision.
"When we got there to give what we thought was just going to be a little bit of testimony, before the vote, the chair of the committee announced that they would only be hearing testimony and they would not be voting, which was another slap in the face for us,"
Freedman-Kramer said. "The first time, it was virtual testimony, because they said they could not ensure our safety if we came to Trenton to testify, which was a horrifying thing."
Freedman-Kramer said that much of the opposition the proponents of the bill heard argued that its ratification would limit free speech. She said that's not true because the bill differentiates between what they consider acceptable criticism of Israel and unacceptable criticism. She said that the bill "has nothing to do with whether or not anybody else can live [in Israel] or whether you can criticize the government of Israel."
Freedman-Kramer said that the definitions set forth by the bill are key to bettering the entire public's understanding of the issue.
"It also defines Zionism and anti-Zionism, and when it's OK to criticize Israel and when it's not, and [states] Zionism is part of the Jewish identity. I think, again, this is a definition problem that people don't understand — the definition of Zionism is that our fundamental core belief is that the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people is in Zion, is in Israel," she said.
For the Jewish community of New Jersey, the ratification of this bill in June would have been an important step.
"The brutal murders of two young Jewish leaders after an AJC event in Washington, D.C., followed by the setting on fire of peaceful Jewish demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, has amplified the need for this bill," said Rabbi David C. Levy, director of AJC New Jersey. "As we have seen, in their most extreme forms, antisemitic words of hate can be deadly, and as New Jerseyans we have a singular responsibility to call out such hateful speech by clearly defining it. All of which makes this continuing delay in moving this bill forward utterly unacceptable."
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Wednesday, July 02, 2025
Violent crime down in Mass. but anti-Jewish hate crimes spiked last year, new data shows
Overall and violent crime rates continued a downward trend in Massachusetts last year, according to new data released by the state, however there was one glaring and troubling increase -- anti-Jewish hate crimes, which spiked more than 20% in 2024.
For the first time since the state began tracking in 1991, the preliminary data released Tuesday shows that anti-Jewish bias incidents surpassed anti-Black incidents as the most reported hate crime in the Bay State.
Massachusetts also experienced an increase in anti-transgender bias incidents.
Some of the positive highlights from the data include:
Homicides decreased by 11.4% with 132 reported incidents. This figure is below the five-year average of 146.
Robberies fell by 8.6%, aggravated assaults dropped by 5.7%, and motor vehicle thefts saw a sharp decrease of 16.1%.
Fraud-related offenses, including identity theft and welfare fraud, experienced double-digit declines.
"This new data is encouraging and reflects the important work that law enforcement and community partners do day in and day out to keep the people of Massachusetts safe," Gov. Maura Healey said in a press release. "We know there is always more work to be done, and we remain committed to bringing people together to continue to enhance public safety in communities across the state."
Healey said her administration is deeply committed to embracing diversity, upholding its values, and combatting incidents of hate crimes. This is being done through numerous key initiatives, including launching the State Police Hate Crimes Awareness and Response Team (HART), the awarding of over $15.5 million in security grants for high-risk nonprofits and hosting statewide educational forums and seminars for law enforcement and faith-based organizations. The Legislative Task Force on Hate Crimes also continues to advise the administration as it advances efforts to promote justice, equity and civil rights protections statewide.
The Anti-Defamation League of New England is also monitoring the situation closely, and an audit shows antisemitic incidents in the region (not including Connecticut) last year broke all previous annual records for the fifth year in a row. According to the ADL, of 638 acts of assault and vandalism targeting Jewish communities in New England in 2024, 438 of them were recorded in Massachusetts, making it the fifth-highest number of incidents per state in the country following New York, California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
There were 53 incidents in New Hampshire, 52 in Rhode Island, 51 in Maine and 44 in Vermont.
"The persistent increase in antisemitic incidents over the past five years is a stark reminder that antisemitism continues to impact our communities," Samantha Joseph, ADL New England's Regional Director, said in a press release. "Particularly concerning is the continued proliferation of extremist incidents and the rise of attacks against Orthodox Jews. The alarming manifestations of antisemitism in 2024 instill fear and are reminders that much work remains to be done."
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Monday, June 30, 2025
In DC, Hundreds of Jewish Leaders Advocate to Increase Security Grants
Hundreds of Jewish leaders convened in the nation's capital June 25 and 26 to ask Congress and the Trump administration to act to protect Jewish Americans nationwide from violence.
The nearly 400 Jewish leaders from more than 100 major Jewish organizations across the country who participated in emergency meetings had one message: "Jewish security cannot wait."
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia CEO Michael Balaban said that the issue has hit close to home for many — including Pennsylvanians, whose Jewish governor, Josh Shapiro, was attacked this year — but that all Jewish communities are feeling the need to advocate for themselves right now.
"The purpose of this trip is [to advocate for security] in the wake of [the] Boulder, D.C. and the governor's mansion [attacks]. We're seeing a continued rise in antisemitism, and moreover, antisemitic violence. We're seeing it play out in the streets; we're seeing it play out in antisemitic protests," he said.
The Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations led the United for Security Emergency Leadership Mission in response to the recent attacks targeting Jewish events in Washington, D.C., and Boulder, Colorado.
"We are facing an unprecedented situation in American Jewish history where every Jewish institution and event is a potential target for antisemitic violence," Eric Fingerhut, JFNA's CEO and president, said in the press release.
He added that the safety and security of the Jewish community must be elected officials' top priority going forward.
"Whatever other issues the Jewish community may care about, whatever differing opinions we may hold on some of those issues, we are united for security," Fingerhut said.
Throughout more than 200 meetings on Capitol Hill, advocates pushed for a six-point security policy plan for the Jewish community:
• Increase the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $1 billion annually
• Provide federal support for security personnel costs for synagogues and Jewish institutions
• Expand FBI resources to fight the "domestic and global war on terror"
• Fund local law enforcement to protect Jewish institutions
• Regulate hate speech and "incitement to violence" on social media
• Enforce and prosecute existing hate crime legislation
The $1 billion will provide Jewish institutions with "hardened" security and increased personnel, according to Gil Preuss, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. He added that it can cost up to $150,000 for a synagogue to hire a full-time security guard.
Groups of advocates met with their representatives, sharing personal experiences about their local Jewish communities' security concerns.
Balaban said that the goals of this trip were, in part, to get dedicated funding for security guards and personnel.
"It's harder and harder to ensure that we've got security guards. We can't just hire any run of the mill individual," he said. "We need to hire trained individuals. We typically hire off-duty police officers. If you want experience, you have to pay for it."
The Federation also wants to see enhanced intelligence capacities to combat domestic terrorism, as well as the capability to better monitor social media platforms and hold people using hate speech on them accountable.
The emergency meetings come as American Jewish communities are increasingly fearful for their safety and concerned about the "escalating geopolitical tensions" between Israel and Iran, according to the press release.
Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., addressed the Jewish leaders in attendance about the current situation in the Middle East as the U.S. prepares to meet with Iran.
"The basis of any agreement pursued with Iran has to be: 'There is no more attempt to annihilate the Jewish state, the Jewish people,'" Leiter said.
Balaban said that Jewish institutions have done a lot to ensure that their buildings are safe, but that there is still work to do.
"On one hand, the physical structures of our institutions have become more secure," he said. "They need to become even more secure."
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Trump administration threatens to cut all Harvard funding over Jewish students’ rights
The Trump administration on Monday threatened to cut all federal funding to Harvard University, saying that its investigation has concluded that civil rights of Jewish students had been violated.
A letter sent to the Ivy League school said that the university was in violation of civil rights laws that requires colleges to protect students from discrimination based on race or nationality.
The Trump administration investigators found that Harvard was at times a "willful participant in anti-Semitic harassment of Jewish students, faculty, and staff", the letter said, adding that campus leaders let the anti-semitism grow on the campus.
"Failure to institute adequate changes immediately will result in the loss of all federal financial resources and continue to affect Harvard's relationship with the federal government," The Associated Press reported, citing the official letter.
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Thursday, June 26, 2025
Jewish Teen Threatened at Knifepoint in France as Antisemitic Violence Surges
In a disturbing attack emblematic of France's spiraling antisemitism crisis, a 15-year-old Jewish boy was violently assaulted and humiliated at knifepoint last week in the southwestern commune of Colomiers, a suburb of Toulouse.
The teen, who attends a private Jewish school, was reportedly meeting a girl he had connected with over social media. When he arrived, he was ambushed by two men waiting outside a basement entrance. One of the attackers brandished a knife, made the boy strip off his shirt, and forced him to dance while filming the abuse.
The assailant then grabbed the boy by the neck, forced him to kneel, and ordered him to "beg and pray," repeatedly calling him a "dirty Jew." The attacker threatened to kill the teen if he contacted police. The video of the assault was later posted on TikTok, further compounding the victim's trauma.
The teenager identified the assailants through their social media accounts and filed a formal complaint. French authorities arrested one suspect, who now faces charges of aggravated assault motivated by religious hatred. The investigation remains ongoing, with efforts underway to apprehend the remaining attacker.
This horrific act is one of many in a growing global epidemic of antisemitic hate unleashed after the October 7th Hamas massacre in Israel.
According to the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF), 1,570 antisemitic incidents were reported across France in the first months of 2024 — following a record-breaking 1,676 in 2023. These figures reflect a stark and sustained rise in Jew-hatred, up from just 436 incidents in 2022.
Alarmingly, CRIF reports that more than 65% of last year's antisemitic incidents targeted individuals directly, with over 10% involving physical violence.
Earlier this month, French Rabbi Elie Lemmel was physically assaulted twice in one week in public.
Other recent incidents in France included the defacement of five Jewish-linked sites in Paris — including a national Holocaust memorial, three synagogues, and an Israeli restaurant — with green paint.
Following the attacks on Rabbi Lemmel, Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Advisor on European Affairs Shannon Seban commented, "What can I say? It's like a bad movie… but it's true. An unbearable reality, where not a day goes by without news of a new antisemitic attack. An antisemitism that is becoming commonplace, almost 'trendy' in certain circles, fueled and trivialized by a segment of the political class. It is high time that the fight against antisemitism be elevated to a major national cause. Before it's too late."
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Tuesday, June 24, 2025
She Left The Hasidic Enclave of New Square. Now She’s Reclaiming Her Judaism and Her Future.
When Rebecca Blum walked across the graduation stage at Hofstra University this spring, donning her cap and gown, the diploma she carried bore the weight of everything it took to get there: years of healing her relationship with Judaism, and the slow, courageous process of making it through college.
Rebecca grew up in New Square, a Hasidic village in Rockland County, New York, made up predominantly of Skverer Hasidim, which she describes as "one of the most extreme Hasidic groups." Her family structure felt challenging, and any sense of spiritual joy felt absent. "Judaism," she says, "wasn't something that brought me happiness."
Eventually, the dissonance became too much to ignore. Rebecca made the difficult decision to leave the community she had been raised in. In the years that followed, she distanced herself from Judaism altogether, not out of apathy, but because the pain of her past experiences made it feel impossible to reengage.
Still, walking away from one version of Jewish life didn't mean letting go of Judaism entirely—at least not forever. A few years ago, a friend told her about Makom, the Jew in the City branch that helps individuals find a path to a Judaism and Jewish community rooted in light, health, and positivity—by separating toxic experiences and dysfunctional people from faith itself.
At first, Rebecca dismissed the idea. "I thought, 'It's not for me,'" she recalled. But eventually, she gave it a try—and what she found changed everything. For the first time, she encountered Jewish lives that felt authentic, warm, and, most profound for Rebecca, joyfully expressed.
It was at Makom Shabbatons—hosted by religious families—that Rebecca saw a different kind of Judaism. "Makom led me to connect with families that became so important in my journey," she said. "They didn't follow a script. It was very profound and eye-opening for me that there are healthy families that have a healthy standard of living within Judaism."
One moment in particular left a mark. At a Makom event, Dr. Yidi Sabiner, a Gur Hasid from Bnei Brak, shared his journey of becoming a doctor while part of the Hasidic community. Despite having no secular education and failing his first exam, he was eventually accepted to the Technion—"the MIT of Israel," as Rebecca puts it. "If he can do it, I can do it."
That story lit a spark. She realized she wanted to pursue college too. But the road ahead was anything but simple. Raised without a formal secular education, Rebecca had no SAT scores, no high school transcript, and no guidance on how to navigate the application process.
Still, she applied to Hofstra University six years after leaving high school—and to her amazement, she got in. "I don't think I would have had the courage to go down my college journey without Makom," she said. "It's the best thing I've ever done for myself. I couldn't be prouder."
There were plenty of challenges along the way. "I didn't even know how to write a paper or use the internet properly for research," she said. "I had to teach myself algebra just to take calculus." She paused her studies twice—once to care for her mental health, and once for financial reasons—but she never stopped moving forward.
"I show up for myself every day," she said. "I could have given up so many times. But I'm still fighting for my place in the universe. I wake up and I'm trying to accomplish something every day. That means a lot to me."
College also gave her something she hadn't expected: support. And she found it in people she didn't know she needed—her Honors College dean, her Hillel rabbi, and classmates who welcomed her, even though she was older than most.
"I very much felt, when I left the Jewish community, that I had to figure it all out on my own," she said. "I had to do it all on my own. Because I was alone. I didn't have a support system. But what I learned through this college journey is that a support system—like finding people that are there for you and letting them help you—is incredibly powerful."
Now, Rebecca is looking ahead. She's job-hunting, hoping to build a career in finance, and eager to finally engage more with the Jewish young adult community now that she finally has the time to look up from her textbooks.
She's also continuing to embrace Judaism in a way that feels personal, meaningful, and—most of all—life-giving. "I do Judaism in a way that brings me joy," she said. "Lighting candles Friday night, going to a Shabbat lunch, davening—if it brings me closer to my people and to a Higher Power, I do it."
To others navigating the pain of religious trauma or rebuilding a Jewish identity, Rebecca offers this: "Follow your intuition. There are multiple truths within Judaism—you just have to find your own. With the right support and enough effort, your dreams can come true."
And to her younger self in New Square? "It's worth the struggle."
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Tuesday, June 17, 2025
The Borscht Belt Fest celebrates the Jewish Catskills of yesteryear
The Borscht Belt Fest is back for its third year of nostalgia-filled fun in the Catskills.
Taking place July 26-27 in Ellenville, New York, this year's festival will highlight the comedy, culture and food of the iconic upstate resorts and bungalow colonies that made summers special for scores of American Jews in the mid-20th century.
With an expected attendance of between 6,000 and 8,000 people, this year's Borscht Belt Fest is yet another example of large-scale Jewish festivals that are set to occur in New York throughout the year.
The Borscht Belt Fest is the "marquee event" of the Borscht Belt Museum, a museum that spotlights the golden age of the Jewish Catskills that opened in a former bank in Ellenville in the summer of 2023.
"We like to highlight the Jewish joy aspect of this period of history," said Andrew Jacobs, president of Catskills Borscht Belt Museum's board of directors.
This year, the festival is partially funded by a grant from the UJA-Federation of New York. The extra support has allowed festival organizers to expand the scope of this year's event: "We're just doing more of everything," Jacobs said. That means more comedy shows, more food options and more panel discussions than ever before.
The Borscht Belt is a nickname for the Catskills region of upstate New York, which became famous for its summer bungalow colonies and resorts that, beginning in the post-World War II era, were frequented by Jewish families. At the time, Jews were excluded from many mainstream holiday destinations, so Jews — and Jewish New Yorkers, in particular — built vacation spots in parts of Sullivan, Ulster and Orange counties, eventually transforming the Catskills into hotspot for Jewish culture and community.
By the 1970s, the Catskills fell out of fashion for Jewish families. By then, airfare had become significantly cheaper, non-Jewish resorts began to allow Jewish guests, and the availability of air conditioning in New York City apartments meant that escaping the city for the summer was no longer a necessity, but a luxury. Over the ensuing decades, nearly every one of these Jewish resorts have permanently closed their doors; several have burned to the ground in recent years.
Today, this Jewish vacationland has been in decline for nearly as long as it once thrived. Nonetheless, the nostalgia for the Borscht Belt's golden age remains strong — even among those who are too young to have ever played "Simon Says" at Grossinger's Resort.
This year's Borscht Belt Fest will emphasize the comedy culture of the Borscht Belt, where comedy legends like Mel Brooks, Jackie Mason and Joan Rivers got their start. It will be headlined by Josh Gondelman, an Emmy-winning writer, stand-up comedian, and author, and will feature more than 30 other performers, including Elon Gold and Sarge.
"Everyone likes to laugh," Jacobs noted.
As part of the festival, Gondelman will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to actor and comedian Robert Klein on Saturday night. Klein began his career in the Borscht Belt at resorts like the Concord and Kutsher's, and he eventually became an iconic comedian across Broadway, film and television.
In addition to stand-up comedy, festival-goers will be able to watch a short play about a weekly mahjong game, participate in a Borscht Belt-themed story slam, experience a deep dive into the Yiddish music of the Catskills, and much more.
Another central event of the festival weekend is Sunday's street fair, which is free for all attendees. Guests will enjoy booths of Jewish food vendors, klezmer music, cooking workshops, and local artisans. They can also stop by the Borscht Belt Museum to check out its current exhibit, "And Such Small Portions! Food and Comedy in the Catskills Resort Era."
"It's a great way to reconnect to Jewish culture from the past," Jacob said of the festival, "whether it be Yiddish-American pop music or contemporary, young, up and coming comedians who are reinterpreting that [style of comedy] for modern audiences."
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Monday, June 16, 2025
Anti-Jewish Terror Suspect Appears in NY Federal Court
While 26 Federal Plaza has received a lot of attention recently for the raucous pro-migrant, anti-ICE protests that have occurred outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, there's a lot more going on inside that edifice than just Immigration Court.
The Southern District of New York (SDNY) Criminal Division has its offices there, as do the FBI, and the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of these groups, alleged terror suspect Muhammad Shahzeb Khan was arraigned in federal court on Thursday June 13, 2025. Khan, an alleged supporter of ISIS, is accused of plotting a mass shooting against a Jewish center in Brooklyn, pled not guilty to two charges:
1. Attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization
2. Attempting to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries
Khan faces life in prison if convicted and remains in federal custody.
Asked why a planned attack in Brooklyn was being prosecuted in Manhattan federal court, a SDNY spokesperson declined comment.
Khan, a 20-year-old citizen of Pakistan, was extradited from Canada earlier in the week. Khan was arrested by Royal Canadian Mounted Police on September 4, 2024, in Ormstown, Quebec, around twelve miles from the New York border, while he attempted to be smuggled into the United States.
Khan arrived in Canada in June 2023 on a government study permit. By that November, it's alleged that Khan began communicating on social media and in encrypted private messages, his support for ISIS. After this, Khan began sharing with undercover law enforcement officers [UCs] a plan that he and a U.S.-based associate had to attack "Israeli Jewish Chabads" with AR-style assault weapons.
By August 2024, Khan had narrowed his target to a religious center in Brooklyn, with a go date of around October 7, 2024—the one-year anniversary of Hamas' attack against Israel.
"New york is perfect to target Jews" Khan is alleged to have told the under cover agents because it has the "largest Jewish population in America," adding "we are going to nyc to slaughter them."
At the same time he was plotting against New York Jews, Khan was also seeking refugee status in Canada as a gay male, according to Fazal Qadeer, a Mississauga, Ontario-based immigration consultant. In Pakistan, same-sex relations are illegal.
"The foreign terrorist organization ISIS remains a clear and present danger to the American people, and our Jewish citizens are especially targeted by evil groups like these," said US Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
"Muhammad Shahzeb Khan has been brought to the United States to face justice for his barbaric plot to conduct a mass shooting in New York City," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia.
"Muhammad Shahzeb Khan—a supporter of ISIS and fueled by antisemitism—allegedly plotted a terrorist attack that could have slaughtered Jewish New Yorkers simply because of their faith," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. "Thanks to the proactive work of the NYPD, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office, that plot was stopped before it could become a tragedy."
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Jewish grocery store in Brookline vandalized with ‘Free Palestine’ brick
A Jewish grocery store in Brookline was vandalized early Sunday morning when a brick that said "Free Palestine" was thrown through the business's window, police said.
The Butcherie, a kosher grocery store, is located on Harvard Street in a stretch of Jewish businesses near Coolidge Corner, including Kupel's Bakery, the Kosher Wok, and Israel Book Shop. It's about a block away from Congregation Kehillath Israel, a traditional, conservative synagogue.
Brookline Police Chief Jennifer Paster called the incident "a disturbing act of hate and anti-Semitic vandalism."
"Free Palestine" was written in large, red letters across the brick, Paster said.
"This was not simply an act of property damage, and it is not plainly vandalism. This was a targeted, hateful message meant to intimidate a Jewish-owned business and our broader Jewish community," Paster said.
The investigation shows that at least two people wearing masks walked down Coolidge Street, threw a brick through the storefront window, and fled the way they came, police said.
Police noted that no other businesses appear to be targeted. The incident is being investigated as a hate crime.
The Butcherie shared an image of the brick, saying the perpetrators are using political slogans "as a cover to spread intimidation and hatred."
"This was not a statement of protest, it was an attack on the Jewish community," the store wrote on Facebook. "This was not about policy or politics. It was an act meant to threaten, to isolate, and to target us for who we are."
The business did not respond to requests for comment from Boston.com.
Gili Zilberberg, one of the owners of the Butcherie, spoke to the Daily Wire in front of the damaged window. The brick appeared to have been thrown through a window displaying a map of Israel.
"I'm third generation, this has never happened in the Butcherie history," he said. "This is a nonpolitical statement, here," he said, referring to the map of Israel showing wines produced in the region.
The winery map depicts the West Bank and Gaza, both Palestinian territories, and the Golan Heights in Syria as part of Israel. A nearly identical map to the one on the Butcherie's window is part of a "Sip for Solidarity" campaign launched to donate funds to Israeli relief efforts in 2023, according to the St. Louis Jewish Light.
The Golan Heights is a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria that Israel annexed, partly in 1981 and then the rest in 2024 after the fall of the Assad regime. While President Donald Trump recognized it as part of Israel in 2019, the international community considers it Israel-occupied Syrian territory.
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Thursday, June 12, 2025
How Adrienne Adams got the coveted Hasidic nod Andrew Cuomo longed for
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has secured more than two dozen coveted Hasidic endorsements, making her the dark horse to watch in what has been a tumultuous mayoral race.
Late on Monday, Speaker Adams received the backing of 25 Hasidic sects and schools in Borough Park, part of an influential voting bloc that helped swing the 2021 mayoral race for incumbent Eric Adams. The two Adamses are not related.
The twist: the endorsements for Adrienne Adams ahead of the June 24 Democratic primary appear to be part of a strategy to help the embattled mayor, who has quit the Democrats and is running in the general election on an independent "End Antisemitism" line.
The speaker's announcement is a setback for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the front-runner who had been actively courting Hasidic support and hoped to consolidate the Orthodox groups behind his candidacy.
Orthodox voters favor Mayor Adams, but his status as an Independent has led the leadership to explore an array of candidates in the primary.
The endorsements come at a critical moment in the mayoral race. Recent polls show a close race between Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist and a vocal critic of Israel who identifies as anti-Zionist.
Cuomo, who has made fighting antisemitism central to his candidacy, leads with 41% among Orthodox voters in the primary, according to a recent survey, and secured the backing of the largest Hasidic sects, the two Satmar sects in Williamsburg and Bobov in Boro Park. However, he failed in his bid to secure the unified front he was counting on to stop Mamdani's insurgency.
Even among Cuomo's Hasidic supporters, there are signs that the endorsements are not rock solid.
Moshe Indig, the political leader of the Satmar sect led by Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, told The New York Times he may add Mamdani to his slate of endorsements. Ultimately, he said, he wants to see Mayor Adams re-elected with Orthodox support.
Two leaders involved in the outreach effort, who requested anonymity to speak freely about internal discussions, said that Cuomo met with just a handful of Hasidic leaders and neglected deeper outreach to the broader network of schools and administrators who manage turnout operations.
In these private meetings, and in carefully crafted interviews with online publications, Cuomo reportedly "expressed deep regret" for singling out Hasidic communities for enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One longtime Hasidic operative predicted that at least 20% of voters who belong to the groups who endorsed Cuomo are "soft votes" open to persuasion.
New York City's 700,000 Jewish adults, who have made up about 16% of the Democratic primary vote in past elections, could comprise as much as 20% of turnout in the primary because of growing concern over antisemitism and expected lower turnout citywide.
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Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Adams Team Works Behind Scenes to Try to Sway Rabbis Against Cuomo
Mayor Eric Adams may be running an unusually low-key race for re-election in New York City, opting out of the Democratic primary and mounting an independent general election run without even a campaign manager to steer it.
But behind the scenes, he is making an aggressive play to try to shape the field to his liking and hold onto a key voting bloc.
A top aide to Mr. Adams, Menashe Shapiro, has been calling Orthodox Jewish leaders in recent weeks to urge them not to back Andrew M. Cuomo in the June 24 Democratic primary, or to temper their support for him if they do, according to six people familiar with the effort.
Mr. Adams's allies have indicated they believe he would have a better chance of winning the general election if Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist assemblyman now polling in second place, defeats Mr. Cuomo and becomes the Democratic nominee.
At the same time, Mr. Adams has used his mayoral powers to make policy pronouncements that seem designed to resonate with some Orthodox Jews. He signed an executive order recognizing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism and created the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism to address the spike in antisemitic hate crimes in the city.
"He is going around to people to ask for support for the general election," said Rabbi Moishe Indig, a leader of one faction of the Satmar Hasidic group in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. "He would love that everyone just ignore the primary and wait until the fall."
The mayor's efforts have had mixed results. Mr. Cuomo, the race's front-runner, has rolled out a series of endorsements from important Orthodox rabbis in Brooklyn and Queens in recent days, but lost out on others.
The mayor's influence campaign suggests he sees an opportunity to try to weaken his chief rival at the margins and make a case before the general election that his own candidacy is still viable.
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Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Trump DOJ Sues Oakland Coffee Shop That Allegedly Refused to Serve Jews
The Justice Department announced today that it filed a lawsuit against Fathi Abdulrahim Harara and Native Grounds LLC, the owners of the Jerusalem Coffee House in Oakland, California. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants discriminated against Jewish customers, in violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in places of public accommodation.
"It is illegal, intolerable, and reprehensible for any American business open to the public to refuse to serve Jewish customers," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "Through our vigorous enforcement of Title II of the Civil Rights Act and other laws prohibiting race and religious discrimination, the Justice Department is committed to combatting anti-Semitism and discrimination and protecting the civil rights of all Americans."
The lawsuit, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that defendants discriminated against Jewish customers through policies and practices that denied them the full and equal enjoyment of the Jerusalem Coffee House's services, accommodations, and privileges. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that on two separate occasions, Harara ordered Jewish customers — identified because they were wearing baseball caps with Stars of David on them — to leave the coffee house. During one incident, an employee told a Jewish customer who was trying to make a purchase, "You're the guy with the hat. You're the Jew. You're the Zionist. We don't want you in our coffee shop. Get out." During another incident, Harara accused another Jewish customer who was with his five-year-old son of wearing a "Jewish star," being a "Zionist," and supporting "genocide." Harara repeatedly demanded that the customer and his son leave and falsely accused them of "trespassing" to the Oakland police. Neither customer stated anything about their political views to Harara or any other employees while at the coffee house.
The lawsuit also alleges that, on the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, the Jerusalem Coffee House announced two new drinks: "Iced In Tea Fada," an apparent reference to "intifada," and "Sweet Sinwar," an apparent reference to Yahya Sinwar, the former leader of Hamas who orchestrated the attacks on Israel. The lawsuit further alleges that the coffee house's exterior side wall displays inverted red triangles, a symbol of violence against Jews that has been spraypainted on Jewish homes and synagogues in anti-Semitic attacks.
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Monday, June 09, 2025
Hasidic leaders: 'IDF draft strictly forbidden by Torah Law'
A halakhic ruling was published Monday by leading decisors of Jewish law from major and influential Hasidic courts, reinforcing a firm prohibition against enlistment in the IDF.
The rabbis state unequivocally: "According to Torah law, it is strictly forbidden to enlist in the army, which serves as a melting pot for the gravest transgressions and for casting off the yoke [of Torah and mitzvot]."
The ruling comes in response to questions posed by members of the haredi public whose primary occupation is not Torah study and addresses also military frameworks designated for the haredi sector.
"The prohibition also includes haredi enlistment tracks, whether existing or future," the statement reads. "These frameworks have proven to be deceitful, and they aim to alter the character of the Torah-observant public. Furthermore, they are subject to secular authorities, among other concerns."
The halakhic ruling is endorsed by senior rabbinic figures and spiritual leaders from leading Hasidic dynasties in Israel, including Gur, Belz, Vizhnitz, Sanz, and other prominent Hasidic communities.
Rabbi Yechiel Michel Zilber added under his signature: "I personally heard from the Gaon of Tchebin, of blessed memory, who ruled based on the Talmud that even King David would not go to war without consulting the Sanhedrin and the Urim VeTummim. The Gaon, of blessed memory, asked: how can one send a Jewish youth to the army and to war when there is no Sanhedrin and no Urim VeTummim? This applies to any young man, whoever he may be."
Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Shapira added: "Thank G-d, the above words are true and certain. Heaven forbid one should enter 'their melting pot'—this is a danger to all of Yiddishkeit."
Rabbi Chaim Pesach Horowitz also stated: "I hereby express my support and affirmation of all the above, particularly to preserve every Jewish soul in sanctity and purity for our holy Torah."
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Thursday, June 05, 2025
Zohran Mamdani Refuses to Say Israel Has a Right to Exist ‘As a Jewish State’ During NYC Mayoral Debate
During Wednesday night's New York City Democratic mayoral debate, Zohran Mamdani once again refused to acknowledge Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, sparking immediate backlash among the other candidates.
In one of the final questions of the debate, moderator David Ushery asked the candidates which foreign country they plan on visiting first if they become mayor of New York City. Several candidates — Andrew Cuomo, Adrienne Adams, and Whitney Tilson — responded that they would visit Israel on behalf of the city if elected.
Mamdani stated that he would focus on addressing issues within New York City rather than venturing out of the country.
Melissa Russo, another one of the moderators, pressed Mamdani on whether he would "visit Israel" if he becomes mayor.
"As the mayor, I will be standing up for Jewish New Yorkers, and I will be meeting them wherever they are across the five boroughs. Whether that's in their synagogues and temples or at their homes or at the subway platform," Mamdani said.
"Do you believe in a Jewish state of Israel?" Russo asked Mamdani.
"I believe that Israel has a right to exist," Mamdani said.
"As a Jewish state?" Russo pressed.
"As a state with equal rights," Mamdani responded.
Cuomo interjected, arguing that Mamdani's response indicates that he does not believe Israel has a right to continue "as a Jewish state" and that the progressive firebrand "will not visit Israel."
"I believe that every state should be a state of equal rights," Mamdani continued.
In the closing stretch of the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, Mamdani's views on Israel and antisemitism have been increasingly scrutinized. Mamdani, a member of the far-left Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) organization, has been under pressure by anti-Israel activists to adopt a more adversarial posture against the Jewish state.
Moreover, the progressive city official also sparked outrage after engaging in a series of provocative actions, such as appearing on the podcast of anti-Israel, pro-Hamas influencer Hasan Piker and vowing to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
During an event hosted by the UJA-Federation of New York last month, Mamdani also declined to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state.
"I believe that Israel has a right to exist with equal rights for all," Mamdani said in a carefully worded response when asked, sidestepping the issue of Israel's existence specifically as a "Jewish state."
He also expressed support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement — an initiative which seeks to economically isolate Israel as the first step toward its eventual destruction — arguing that Israel has violated Palestinian human rights.
"My support for BDS is consistent with my core politics, which is non-violence. And I think that it is a legitimate movement when you are seeking to find compliance with international law, and I think we have seen the Israeli government be out of compliance with international law," Mamdani said.
Mamdani has made anti-Israel activism a cornerstone of his political career. A self-described democratic socialist, he has both advanced state legislation seeking to punish Israel and labeled the Jewish state's defensive military operations in Gaza a "genocide."
New York City, which is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, has experienced a major spike in antisemitic incidents since the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel, amid the ensuing war in Gaza.
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Wednesday, June 04, 2025
Two more attacks on Jews heighten concerns about security in and around US synagogues
For the leaders of U.S. Jewish institutions, the recent attacks in Boulder, Colorado, and Washington, D.C., are stark reminders of their responsibility to remain vigilant despite years of hardening their security measures and trying to keep their people safe.
Now, they're sounding the alarm for more help after a dozen people were injured in Boulder while demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza on Sunday. And just over a week earlier, two Israeli Embassy staffers were fatally shot outside a Jewish museum in Washington.
After that shooting, 43 Jewish organizations issued a joint statement requesting more support from the U.S. government for enhanced security measures. Specifically, they asked Congress to increase funding to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $1 billion.
"Every Jewish organization has been serious about security for years. We have to be," said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. "The grants are to harden the buildings, for things like cameras and glass, and some kind of blockage so they can't drive a truck into the building."
"These are the everyday realities of Jewish life in the 21st century in America. It's a sad reality, but it is an essential responsibility of leadership to make sure that people are first and foremost safe."
Shira Hutt, executive vice president at The Jewish Federations of North America, said existing federal funds were inadequate, with only 43% of last year's applicants to the grant program receiving funding.
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