City Council announces five-point legislative and funding package focused on education, protecting schools and houses of worship, and resources to confront hate
On Tuesday, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced a comprehensive, Council-led package of legislative and funding actions to combat anti-Semitism, strengthen protections for schools and all houses of worship, and expand Holocaust education citywide. The announcement was made at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, alongside Council Members, faith leaders, and community advocates.
The City Council’s Five-Point Action Plan to Combat Anti-Semitism is a proactive approach to addressing rising anti-Semitism through concrete action, pairing education and prevention with enhanced public safety, data collection, and accountability, while firmly upholding constitutional protections and the rights of all New Yorkers.
“At a moment of rising anti-Semitism, the City Council is taking decisive, responsible action to invest in education, strengthen protections for schools and houses of worship, support community safety, and ensure we have the tools to confront anti-Semitism wherever it appears,” said Speaker Menin. “As the first Jewish Speaker of the City Council, and as the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, this issue is deeply personal to me.”
The Council’s action comes amid a documented rise in anti-Semitic incidents nationwide and heightened concerns about safety around religious institutions in New York City. According to the NYPD, anti-Semitic incidents accounted for 57% of reported hate crimes in 2025, although only approximately ten percent of New York City residents are Jewish. Jewish New Yorkers were the targets of hate crimes more than all other groups combined.
The City Council’s Five-Point Action Plan to Combat Anti-Semitism includes:
- Major New Investment in Holocaust Education and Legislation to Address Discriminatory Misinformation
The Council will allocate $1.25 million in new funding over two fiscal years to the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust – including $250,000 through the end of FY26 and $1 million in FY27 – a significant increase over current annual funding levels. The investment will support the development of a new virtual Holocaust education experience, expanded school outreach, and broader access for students citywide, complementing existing in-person programming. The Council will also introduce legislation to require the Department of Education to distribute materials to students regarding the ways that social media use can contribute to anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate.
- Schools and Houses of Worship Access and Safety Act
New legislation will establish a safe perimeter around entrances and exits of houses of worship, prohibiting harassment and intimidation of individuals while preserving First Amendment rights. The measure is designed to ensure New Yorkers can safely attend religious services without fear or obstruction.
- Private School Security Infrastructure Reimbursement Program
The Council will establish a needs-based reimbursement program to help private schools install security camera systems, prioritizing institutions with limited resources. The program is designed to enhance student safety at schools lacking the necessary resources. Many private and parochial schools serve low- and moderate-income families and lack access to funding available to public schools. This program is needs-based and is narrowly focused on safety infrastructure.
- Community-Based Security Training Initiative
A new city-supported program will fund security training for Jewish organizations and institutions, as well as organizations of all denominations, with a focus on smaller, community-based institutions that may lack access to professional safety planning and preparedness resources.
- Anti-Semitism Incident Reporting and Data Act
The Council will establish a dedicated hotline to report incidents of anti-Semitism, housed within the NYC Commission on Human Rights. The Commission will be tasked with tracking incident frequency, geographic patterns, and trends, and reporting findings to inform future policy and enforcement.
The announcement builds on Speaker Menin’s long-standing leadership on Holocaust education and combating antisemitism. In 2024, she spearheaded a landmark public-private partnership to send all eighth-grade public and charter school students to the Museum of Jewish Heritage, expanding access to Holocaust education for tens of thousands of students citywide. That initiative, one of the most ambitious of its kind in the country, was designed to confront anti-Semitism at its roots through education, dialogue, and historical understanding.
“Education is our most powerful tool in confronting antisemitism, and Speaker Menin has consistently understood that truth,” said Jack Kliger, President and CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. “Her leadership and this historic investment in the Museum’s educational programming will allow us to reach more students, expand innovative learning experiences, and ensure that Holocaust education remains a living, relevant force for New York City’s young people.”
“Every New Yorker should feel safe and be safe. As Jewish New Yorkers face growing threats of anti-Semitism, words of encouragement and sympathy are not enough,” said Council Member Eric Dinowitz, Chair of the Jewish Caucus.
“As anti-Semitic attacks continue to rise in New York at an alarming rate, Speaker Menin and the City Council are meeting this moment with real leadership and meaningful action,” said Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. “This five-point plan will help ensure the safety and security of our community while tackling anti-Semitism before it takes root.”
“Jewish communities across New York City are facing real and growing threats, and Speaker Menin and the City Council are meeting this moment with action,” said Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation of NY.”