Each year, New York’s political establishment gathers in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the SOMOS Conference, a nonpartisan forum designed to bring together legislators, city officials, and community advocates for dialogue and coalition-building beyond Albany’s usual confines. Originally centered on Latino concerns—somos meaning “we are” in Spanish—the conference has evolved into a dynamic meeting ground where leaders across political, ethnic, and religious lines exchange ideas on issues ranging from education and housing to healthcare and public safety.
This year’s SOMOS took place just days after Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor. His victory, celebrated by progressives and approached cautiously by others, framed much of the discussion throughout the conference. Mamdani’s outspoken criticism of Israel and his support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement were points of unease, even as many participants expressed a desire to open lines of communication and pursue mutual understanding.
“The mainstream Jewish community is open to dealing with reality,” said Noam Gilboord, Chief Operating and Community Relations Officer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY). Hon. Mark Treyger, JCRC’s CEO, noted that Mamdani’s transition team had already reached out privately to reassure Jewish institutions that security funding for major communal events—like the Israel Day on Fifth Parade—would remain stable.
Although Mamdani did not attend Jewish-organized receptions attended by NYS Attorney General Letitia James and ranking Queens Congress Member Gregory Meeks, his top advisers appeared at the Thursday-night JCRC–UJA-Federation reception on his behalf. Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Director of Agudath Israel of America’s New York office, said the outreach was a step in the right direction. “The mayor-elect said he’s going to tackle antisemitism—we’ll take him at his word,” he said.
Phylisa Wisdom of the New York Jewish Agenda told The Jewish Insider that Mamdani’s team seemed genuinely eager to engage with Jewish spaces it had previously avoided. At the same time, Jewish security professionals were preparing for potential shifts in law enforcement priorities. Mitch Silber, Executive Director of the Community Security Initiative (CSI), warned that Mamdani’s proposal to eliminate the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG) could undermine Jewish institutional safety. “SRG is what essentially stands between ‘Free Palestine’ protesters and the Jewish community,” Silber said.
In anticipation, CSI formed Task Force Z, a team of regional security directors developing contingency plans and partnerships to sustain security coverage if NYPD resources were reduced. CSI has since strengthened its collaboration with volunteer patrols such as Queens Shmira, as well as groups in Crown Heights, Borough Park, Flatbush, and Far Rockaway. “These groups need more resources—vehicles, vests, radios—if they’re going to serve as an effective deterrent,” Silber explained. CSI also expanded coordination with the Community Security Service (CSS), which deploys over 2,000 trained volunteers throughout the city. These cooperative efforts reflect a broader trend toward community-led vigilance, driven by concerns about police manpower and overtime reductions under the incoming administration.
The Jewish delegation to SOMOS was notably robust, with prominent Orthodox leaders such as Queens community adviser Alan Sherman, Jewish liaison to NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams Pesach Osina, FJCC Chairperson Josh Mehlman, UJA’s Daniel Rosenthal, political insider Gil Cygler, Brooklyn askan Ushi Teitelbaum, political strategist Yoel Lefkowitz, District Leader Shimi Pelman, Jewish influencer Leon Goldenberg, and journalist Jacob Kornbluh among those in attendance. They were joined by the JCRC-NY and UJA-Federation NY leadership teams.
Among the most poignant scenes came during a ceremony hosted by The Blue Card, which laid a commemorative stone honoring Holocaust survivors and victims. “During SOMOS in Puerto Rico, I was invited by The Blue Card to recite the traditional Jewish memorial prayer at the stone-laying ceremony honoring Holocaust survivors and victims,” said Rabbi Michael Miller, CEO Emeritus of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.
His prayer, Kel Maleh Rachamim, pierced through the hum of political chatter. “We come together not only to mourn,” Rabbi Miller remarked, “but to reaffirm our shared duty to uphold life, compassion, and justice.”
One of the most uplifting moments of the weekend was the annual Friday night Jewish & Hispanic Unity Oneg Shabbat Reception, organized by Met Council, Chabad of Puerto Rico, UJA-Federation, and NYC Council Jewish Caucus Chair Eric Dinowitz, and led by Met Council CEO David Greenfield. The event brought together hundreds of political and communal figures from across backgrounds, celebrating the shared value of caring for society’s most vulnerable.
The program honored several distinguished guests, among them incoming New York City Comptroller Mark Levine, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, State Senator Zellnor Myrie, and Assemblymember Catalina Cruz. The event featured spirited remarks from Greenfield and an appearance by Attorney General Letitia James, whose passionate advocacy drew a standing ovation. “If aliens asked, ‘Take me to your leader,’ I’d send them to the Attorney General’s office—she’s the heart and soul of public service in New York,” joked Greenfield.
The Chabad Jewish Center later described the evening as a powerful expression of partnership and gratitude, highlighting the Jewish role in building bridges of compassion and leadership. Shabbos concluded with a Chabad-led Havdalah ceremony.
Yet beneath the cordial receptions, many Jewish leaders remained focused on the implications of the new administration. Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation, emphasized that “actions matter more than words” in confronting antisemitism. Governor Kathy Hochul echoed the need for vigilance, calling on Mamdani to demonstrate concrete steps to protect Jewish New Yorkers. Congress Member Dan Goldman voiced optimism about collaborating on issues like affordability and education, though others were less hopeful. Mamdani’s campaign often received a closed door when attempting outreach to the Orthodox community. But now, as mayor-elect, we must proceed with cautious optimism as we build bridges and work together for the greater good of Orthodox and broader New York Jewry.
NYC Comptroller-elect Mark Levine, who endorsed Mamdani despite differences over Israel policy, acknowledged the city’s deep political divide. Facing pressure from some of Mamdani’s allies to divest from Israel bonds, Levine held his ground: “I have deep personal ties to Israel.”
Addressing the crowd in Spanish and Hebrew, Levine reaffirmed his refusal to support calls to divest the city’s pension funds from Israel bonds, reiterating that such investments reflect New York’s long-standing economic and cultural ties to Israel and contribute to the state’s financial stability.
Meanwhile, Met Council continued to play a major role at SOMOS. On Friday morning, the organization joined an emergency statewide coalition led by United Way of New York City to respond to what it called “the biggest SNAP food crisis of our lives.” Met Council CEO David Greenfield said, “Millions are needlessly suffering,” echoing the urgency of the group’s advocacy.
As SOMOS 2025 came to a close, one longtime attendee reflected, “These gatherings remind us that even when politics feels divided, we still find ways to stand together.” Jewish delegates left San Juan aware of the uncertainties ahead but firm in their mission: to maintain open communication with the new mayor, protect communal security, and strengthen partnerships across New York’s diverse social and political spectrum.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
