Mayor names progressive Jewish leader to combat antisemitism amid rising hate crimes
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of the progressive New York Jewish Agenda advocacy group, to lead the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, a decision that has sparked significant debate within New York’s Jewish community about leadership, definitions of antisemitism, and the city’s commitment to combating anti-Jewish hatred. Wisdom’s appointment represents a significant shift from her predecessor, Rabbi Moshe Davis, an appointee of former Mayor Eric Adams. The position carries particular weight as the city grapples with a sharp rise in antisemitic attacks, with Jews targeted in hate crimes surging dramatically in the past year.
Wisdom’s Background and Philosophy
Wisdom, 39, has led the New York Jewish Agenda since 2023 and describes herself as a progressive Zionist who supports a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. Under her leadership, the organization has been a vocal critic of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, particularly following October 7, 2023, while strongly condemning the Hamas terror attack that preceded Israeli retaliation. The NYJA has opposed the Anti-Defamation League’s monitoring program launched after Mamdani won the mayoral election, suggesting a more critical stance toward oversight of the mayor’s policies affecting the Jewish community.
Opposition from Orthodox Leaders
Wisdom’s appointment has drawn sharp criticism from Orthodox Jewish leaders, who view her with suspicion based on her past work with YAFFED, an organization advocating for increased oversight of secular education in Hasidic and haredi yeshivas. The Hasidic community strongly opposes forced reforms to the yeshiva system, viewing YAFFED with deep enmity. Orthodox leaders worry that Wisdom’s appointment signals Mamdani’s lack of commitment to their community’s educational autonomy and safety concerns.
IHRA Definition Controversy
Wisdom has opposed the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, which characterizes most forms of Israel criticism as antisemitic. Mamdani repealed Adams’ executive order adopting the IHRA definition on his first day in office, leaving the office without a clear definition to guide policies. Rabbi Marc Schneier, founder of the Hampton Synagogue, stated that Israel cannot be bifurcated from Judaism and that Wisdom’s opposition to the IHRA definition calls understanding of antisemitism into question.
Support from Progressive Jewish Leaders
Wisdom’s appointment has been welcomed by progressive Jewish officials and advocates. City Comptroller Mark Levine praised her as consistently smart, open-minded, and collaborative, while former City Comptroller and current Comptroller Brad Lander called her the perfect person for the job, tweeting that he had watched her lead NYJA through many critical moments.
Concerns About Qualifications
Rabbi Moshe Davis, Wisdom’s predecessor, expressed concern about the appointment, stating that the office requires government experience, strong agency relationships, and trust across the Jewish community to function effectively from day one. Davis warned that without those foundations, there was a real risk the office would struggle to deliver when Jewish New Yorkers needed it most.
Past Comments on Israel
Critics have highlighted Wisdom’s past social media posts, including a 2021 response to then-mayoral candidate Andrew Yang where she said she was floored by his statement supporting Israel against terrorism. The post resurfaced during the controversy surrounding her appointment, fueling concerns among those who view her as insufficiently supportive of Israel’s security interests.
