“Where Do We Draw The Line” – NYC Mayor Adams Hosts Interfaith Leaders To Call Out Anti-Semitic Fueled Violence

Images: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

Brooklyn — New York City Mayor Eric Adams hosted Jewish and other faith leaders to denounce the anti-Semitic murders on Wednesday night in Washington, D.C., at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan on Thursday, May 22.

While the murder of the Kedoshim, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, Hy”d, took place 200 miles south, the effect is heartily felt in New York, home to the country’s largest Jewish community.

During the event, Mayor Adams confirmed the NYPD “has said that there is no known connection to New York, and the person responsible is not known to us. But in response, the NYPD is surging counterterrorism officers in critical response commands out of an overabundance of caution.”

Adams promised that the city will deploy heavy weapons teams to Jewish cultural institutions, schools and Shuls and enhance coverage to Israeli diplomatic facilities. “But let me be clear, we are doing this out of an overabundance of caution.” And the commissioner of Counter-Intelligence “is monitoring any chatter, and the police commissioner will be sure to deploy the manpower that’s needed to protect sensitive locations.”

Standing at the podium alongside the Mayor were NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch; Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive VP of The New York Board of Rabbis; Hindy Poupko, Senior Vice President of the UJA-Federation, and other leaders of the Jewish and Muslim communities.

“You’re either on the side of hate or you’re going to stand up against it,” Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy said while introducing the mayor. “I know where Mayor Adams stands and where this diverse group of people stand.”

“When you see an attack of this magnitude, as I stated to our military forces this morning at our Fleet Week celebration,” Mayor Adams said. “The role of mayor is both substantive and is symbolism. It must be a substantive response, but it must be also, as you’re seeing today, standing side by side, a symbolic response. We join here with not only senior members of my administration of Jewish faith, but also organizations who have consistently stood with us during the time of hatred displayed in our city…”

“We lost them to a senseless act of despicable violence.” he continued.” This violence is exactly what they mean when you hear the words, globalize the intifada. It is the actual playing out of these comments. The violence is something that is unacceptable and not tolerated, and that is what we mean when we say antisemitic propaganda masquerades as activism. Let’s call this what it is, a depraved act of terrorism.

He called out the anti-Semitic hate that spawned since October 7th, “We’ve watched the hate bleed out onto our streets, onto our college campuses, and now at our cultural events. People have glorified terrorist organizations, they have called for violence against Jews, they have called for death to America, to Israel, and to the people of Israel. Now, they’ve got what they came for. What did we think was going to happen with this constant display of hatred and antisemitism? You have never tolerated this on any groups, and that’s why a close, close collaboration of groups are here today, to stand united together against violence and against hate.

“We’ve heard so many people claim these protests aren’t antisemitic, they’re just anti-Israel. We cannot color-code hatred. Today is proof of what I’ve been saying the whole time [emphasis added]. It [is] one and the same and they must stop. I’ve been speaking out against this hate from day one. Not only in the area of antisemitism, but hatred altogether. This city has no room for hate, and this country cannot have room for hate. Where do we draw the line, and when do we draw the line?

“So we’re not alright. I said that on October 8th, and I will say it again. As mayor of the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, this isn’t a philosophical discussion for me. It’s a level of clarity that we must all express. The Jewish community feels, believes, and [is] under attack when you look at the numbers. It can’t be 10 percent of the city and have over 60 percent of the hate crimes… The people of Israel and the people of the United States are resilient. We share an unbreakable bond because of that.”

Representing the New York Board of Rabbis, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik spoke during the event: “We’re remembering two people whose lives were consumed by love, and their lives were taken by hate. We say in our tradition that life and death are in the hands of the tongue. And what we have found over the years is that what may start in the mouth of the tongue descends to the heart and ultimately to the hands.”

“When Jews are slaughtered in a sanctuary in Pittsburgh, we are not safe. When a young Jewish yeshiva kid is killed on the Brooklyn Bridge, we are not safe. When students at a college right near here have to hide in a library during an anti-Israel demonstration, we are not safe.

“So, to those young people downstairs, we should make sure they see all of us standing together. We do teach them that one and one equals two, but we also have to teach them that one and one equals one. That all of us, regardless of our faith, traditions, are many, but we are one. Thank you very much.”

UJA’s Hindy Poupko also spoke at the event, “As the mayor said, after 19 months of violence and hateful rhetoric directed at Jews and the State of Israel, violence was inevitable. Our heart breaks for them, their lives lost, their futures lost, and our hearts break for their families.

She took time to thank the Mayor Adamsd for standing with the community: “You were right there with us right after October 7th, and you have stayed with us while many others have left. And under the leadership of Police Commissioner Tisch, we know that the New York Police Department has our back and will continue to protect us. But let us also be clear about one thing.”

“While Jews everywhere are facing an onslaught of hate, Jewish life will continue. In Washington, in New York, and wherever Jews gather, we remain resolute in our commitment to living our lives as proud Jews.”

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