- Unusually broad alliance of organizations criticizes NY mayor for revoking IHRA antisemitism definition, anti-BDS measure; US Holocaust Museum: Revocation ‘should alarm everyone’
NEW YORK — Leading Jewish groups, including the two main community organizations in New York, on Friday blasted some of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s first steps as mayor, marking a rocky start to the relationship between Mamdani and the Jewish community since he took office a day earlier.
The statement was signed by the UJA-Federation of New York, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, the Anti-Defamation League’s office covering New York and New Jersey, the American Jewish Committee’s New York office, the New York Board of Rabbis, Agudath Israel of America and the Orthodox Union.
The statement marked an unusually broad front from a swath of prominent Jewish organizations.
“Mayor Mamdani pledged to build an inclusive New York and combat all forms of hate, including antisemitism,” the Jewish groups said in a statement. “But when the new administration hit reset on many of Mayor Adams’ executive orders, it reversed two significant protections against antisemitism: the city’s adoption of IHRA and critical protections against the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against the State of Israel.”
Asked about the criticism, Mamdani doubled down on his vows to “fight the scourge of antisemitism.”
Among his first steps as mayor, Mamdani revoked city agencies’ use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which covers some forms of Israel criticism, and a measure opposing the boycott movement targeting Israel.
Mamdani’s predecessor, Eric Adams, enacted both measures by executive order. Mamdani did not target the measures specifically, but revoked all of the executive orders Adams issued since his indictment for alleged corruption in September 2024, including the IHRA definition and the boycott order.
Upon taking office, a New York City mayor must decide to continue or revoke their predecessor’s executive orders.
Adams was a staunch supporter of Israel with deep ties to Jewish communities, while Mamdani is a far-left anti-Zionist who has alarmed many Jews, who fear that his anti-Israel rhetoric and policies will foment hostility against the Jewish community.
The IHRA definition has been adopted by a broad range of national and local governments worldwide as well as other institutions. It has also drawn opposition from those who say its inclusion of some forms of criticism of Israel chills legitimate political speech.
The IHRA definition could have posed a problem for Mamdani because the definition says that denying the Jewish people the right to self-determination is discriminatory. Mamdani has repeatedly refused to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.
The Jewish groups’ statement did, however, welcome a Mamdani executive order to have the police evaluate the handling of protests outside houses of worship, a Mamdani order that mirrored one that Adams issued last month.
The statement also backed Mamdani’s decision to keep the Office to Combat Antisemitism established by Adams. It was unclear how the office will define antisemitism and respond to anti-Zionist incidents that many Jews consider discriminatory.
“Our community will be looking for clear and sustained leadership that demonstrates a serious commitment to confronting antisemitism and ensures that the powers of the mayor’s office are used to promote safety and unity, not to advance divisive efforts such as BDS,” the statement said, referring to the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
“Singling out Israel for sanctions is not the way to make Jewish New Yorkers feel included and safe, and will undermine any words to that effect. Bringing New Yorkers together and building broad coalitions will be foundational to the mayor’s ability to advance a more inclusive New York,” the statement said.
Responding to the criticism, Mamdani said at a Friday press briefing, “My administration will be marked by a city government that will be relentless in its efforts to combat hate and division.”
“We will showcase that by fighting hate across this city, and that includes fighting the scourge of antisemitism by actually funding hate crime prevention, by celebrating our neighbors, and practicing a politics of universality,” Mamdani said.
during his inauguration, Jan. 1, 2026, in New York.
Commenting on the IHRA definition, he added, “Leading Jewish organizations have immense concerns around this definition and so what we will do is actually deliver on our commitments to protect Jewish New Yorkers.”
The US Holocaust Memorial Museum also weighed in on Friday in a separate statement, saying, “There’s a good reason the US and dozens of other countries and cities have adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism.”
“When leaders move to revoke it, like what happened today in New York, it should alarm everyone — especially as violence against Jews is dangerously escalating,” the museum said.
BY: The Times Union – TOI
