Patt Cummins:
Mayor Eric Adams, speaking at a warm midday reception for the city’s Jewish community, delivered a stirring message of solidarity and resistance at Gracie Mansion on July 8, 2025. The mayor’s remarks addressed the rising tide of antisemitism and reaffirmed New York’s commitment to creating a city where every religious and cultural community not only belongs—but thrives.
Adams opened by saluting his administration—particularly First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro and Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack—for their dedication to building a city “where all can raise healthy children and families.” Citing a childhood science lesson, he compared gradual societal tolerance of hate to a frog boiling in warming water: “We have turned the antisemitism degree up one degree at a time… the heat of antisemitism has gotten too hot… So I’m here to turn off the flame, to get the frog out of the pot,” Adams declared, calling on New Yorkers to resist incremental normalization of bigotry.
Highlighting the enduring bonds between Black and Jewish communities, Adams recalled Jewish support during the Civil Rights movement. He honored Julius Rosenwald, who funded thousands of schools for Black students in the Deep South, and applauded Jewish students who joined protests during the Mississippi riots: “I do it because when Dr. King needed allies to march next to him, he found those allies in the Jewish community,” he remarked. For Adams—an African American himself—fostering unity against hate is deeply personal.
Addressing recent concerns within the Jewish community about safety, Adams declared, “We will run no more. We will stay and fight for the city that we love.” He underscored that New York, home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel, must remain a place where people can wear a Star of David or yarmulke—and walk a city street—without fear. “This city belongs to you as with all groups in this city.”
He extended the message to all marginalized communities, citing Sikhs, Asian Americans, and Muslim women who wear hijabs, asserting that New York must be a sanctuary where everyone is protected. He emphasized equitable treatment—whether a limo passenger or driver—calling on elected officials to use taxes for services and fairness, not discrimination.
In a social media post following the event, Mayor Adams added: “So proud to welcome our Jewish community to Gracie Mansion last night to celebrate their heritage, religion, and contributions to our great city. Our administration is proud to stand with them, and we’ve proven it through action and solidarity in tough times.”
Guests at the reception hailed the mayor’s remarks as a timely reaffirmation of New York’s diversity and resilience. Many praised his moral clarity and acknowledgment of the city’s richest tapestry of cultures and faiths. The atmosphere was both celebratory and determined; Mayor Adams emphasized that honoring heritage and confronting prejudice need not be separate endeavours.
By celebrating the contributions of over one million Jewish New Yorkers and recommitting to interfaith and intercultural respect, the reception served as a testament to both remembrance and resolve. In Adams’ words, New York must be a place where every community can define and worship itself without fear—where unity is reflected not only in words, but in conscious governance and action.
As New York continues to confront rising intolerance, Mayor Adams’ address at the Jewish Heritage Reception made it clear: this is a city that chooses courage over fear, solidarity over indifference, and collective responsibility over division.
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