Park East Synagogue in Manhattan received an unannounced show of support on Monday when outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams stopped by the shul that had been subjected just days earlier to a jarring anti-Israel demonstration. Protesters had gathered outside the building shouting “globalize the intifada” and “death to the IDF,” turning a routine community event into a scene of hostility.
Adams used his visit to send a message of resolve. “We don’t back down in the face of hate – we show up,” he posted, emphasizing that he stood “proudly” beside Rabbi Arthur Schneier and the shul’s members to “celebrate Jewish life and reaffirm our unshakable bond with Israel after last week’s antisemitic protests.” He went on to stress, “Neither antisemitism nor ANY other form of hate has any place in NYC.”
Images from the visit showed the mayor speaking warmly with congregants and posing alongside Rabbi Schneier, underscoring his intention to reassure the community after a tense week.
The demonstration that triggered the outcry took place the previous Wednesday, when roughly 200 activists organized by Pal-Awda NY/NJ assembled outside the synagogue during an event sponsored by Nefesh B’Nefesh. Attendees were jeered as they arrived, and one protest leader riled up the crowd by declaring: “It is our duty to make them think twice before holding these events… We need to make them scared.”
Adams was traveling abroad when the incident unfolded, but the aftermath reverberated through City Hall. First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro later said the mayor was furious that police officers had allowed demonstrators to reach the entrance. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch personally apologized to the congregation, acknowledging that the department had not adequately protected the event.
Federal officials soon stepped in. On Sunday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the launch of a probe into the protest. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon stated, “Every time we see violence around a house of worship, we take action,” confirming that a federal investigation “is underway.” She added that the DOJ maintains “zero tolerance” for obstruction “around any American house of worship.”
Local reactions continued to pour in. Several elected officials denounced the protest outright, while a spokesperson for Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani issued a more mixed response. The spokesperson condemned the demonstration, yet also said Mamdani believes that “sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law,” without explaining how Nefesh B’Nefesh’s work could possibly fit that category.
All of this unfolded against a troubling backdrop: fresh NYPD statistics released the day before the mayoral election won by Mamdani showed that Jews were targeted in 62% of all hate crimes reported last month—29 antisemitic incidents out of 47 total—highlighting the tension gripping the city’s Jewish community as leaders confront rising threats.
{Matzav.com}
