New York launched the first Special Task Force against Antisemitism

Amid a sustained increase in hate crimes against the Jewish community since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, New York City took an unprecedented step: the inaugural meeting of the Task Force Against Antisemitism was held, led by Mayor Eric Adams.

The initiative, part of the recently created Office to Combat Antisemitism—which reports directly to the mayor's office—aims to coordinate actions to address an alarming reality: in New York, Jews are targeted by more hate crimes than all other groups combined.

The meeting took place at Manhattan's City Hall and brought together representatives from multiple agencies, from the city police (NYPD), the Commission on Human Rights, and the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, to departments less commonly associated with the issue, such as Parks and Recreation or Small Business Services.

Led by Moshe Davis, head of the new task force, and Randy Mastro, first deputy mayor, the meeting marked the formal beginning of an interagency collaborative effort.

"We're here to make clear what is tolerated and what is not. We want to become an example of how a municipal government should act in the face of hate," Mastro stated, emphasizing the need for a "zero tolerance" policy.

The definition of antisemitism adopted by Adams last month, based on IHRA parameters, was also addressed, with the goal of training agencies to better identify these types of incidents. "It was a great starting point. The energy and willingness to collaborate were palpable. Ideas began to flow," Davis noted at the conclusion of the meeting.

New York thus becomes the first major U.S. city to establish an official and permanent structure specifically to address antisemitism, setting a precedent in the face of an issue that has taken on renewed urgency.