Last Wednesday, May 31, I was privileged to attend Mayor Eric Adams’ Gracie Mansion reception celebrating Jewish Heritage Month. As I walked into the spacious courtyard, exchanging pleasantries with Rav Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel of America, I was pleasantly surprised at the sea of yarmulkes and sheitels I saw. I had expected every walk of Jewish life to attend this program but was moved to see the impact of New York’s Orthodox Jewish community in full display. It was truly a room of friends that greeted the Mayor and his esteemed staff. I would be remiss if I did not note the impact of three such members: Menashe Shapiro (the Mayor’s deputy chief of staff), Joel Eisdorfer (the Mayor’s senior advisor), and NYPD Inspector Richie Taylor (Commanding Officer of the Department’s Community Affairs Unit), who was flanked by tens of police and fire officers, both Jewish and non-Jewish friends of our communities.
As Shapiro, a prodigy of Kew Gardens Hills, delivered his opening remarks under a tremendous tent, I was taken by the reach that Orthodox Jews have in this mayoral administration. We should not take this for granted.
“Tonight is a celebration of Jewish Heritage and it’s a deeply meaningful celebration for our Mayor who has been a tremendous friend to the Jewish community for decades,” said Eisdorfer, as he welcomed the guests. “We just finished celebrating the holiday of Shavuos, which commemorates the time we came together as one unified group to receive the Torah. Our heritage tonight is especially significant, as we join as one unified New York City Jewish community to celebrate Jewish Heritage in the largest Jewish city outside of Israel.” Eisdorfer spoke of the Mayor’s hands-on approach, as he continues to lead the fight against anti-Semitism and implements innovative ways to stop its ugly head.
Mayor Adams, who left the CUNY Law School graduation before the keynote speakers, addressed the debacle head on. “The other day, I was at CUNY Law School, and the graduates, some of them stood up, and they turned their backs because I was a former police officer.” On the now-infamous speech, the Mayor asserted, “One of the most devastating parts of our history is when people remain in the room and allow [speakers and attendees] to desecrate others.” The Mayor vowed that if he were on stage for the commencement speech, he would have denounced them immediately. As the Mayor praised law enforcement, he remarked, “The silence that we are seeing in the midst of the hate we are experiencing will never be the silence that will be in City Hall. As long as I’m the Mayor of New York City, that is not acceptable. We must raise our voices and send a loud message that our secret weapon is our ability to live among each other.”
Speaking of Jewish ideologies and unity with the African American community, Adams continued, “Hidden in the crevices of this community is a powerful term called ‘mitzvah.’ Built into your culture is giving back.” The Mayor explained that the Civil Rights Movement was about the embodiment of the Jewish community and the African American struggle.
Mayor Adams has traveled to Eretz Yisrael more than once, and also went to Greece to combat anti-Semitism with other mayors across the globe. Adams understands his city contains the largest Jewish population outside of the State of Israel. “I am so proud to be the mayor of the Tel Aviv of America that we call New York City,” later saying, “I believe, for the first time in history, there’s an army of people that says we are not going to surrender to hate or let it define us.”
Israel Nitzan, Acting Consul General in New York for the State of Israel, celebrated his country’s 75th anniversary and announced that this August he would be reassigned. “We reflect upon a rich legacy that spans thousands of years. We say Israel is 75 years old; it’s actually 75 years young and 3,000 years old.” On the uptick of anti-Jewish hatred, Nitzan commented, “We cannot ignore the rise of anti-Semitism that continues to plague our world and our life both locally and globally in our neighborhoods. Yet, in the face of adversity we commend your leadership, Mayor Adams.” On the amazing bridges built at the consulate, Nitzan spoke of “fostering dialogue promoting education and nurturing strong bonds of friendship” to build a world that upholds the values of diversity, tolerance, and peace.”
Honors were presented to Monte and Avery Lipman, founders of Republic Records (a company they began in 1995 with their bar mitzvah monies), Penina and Michael Friedman (of the Taunters Organization, which spreads joy to those facing illness and hardship), and noted philanthropists Daniel and Janet Rosen.
Guests made a l’chayim on wine as they dined on pizza, falafel, sushi, and baked ziti, part of the mayor’s vegetarian diet, as acclaimed musician Benny Friedman wowed the crowd.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
Photos By Yaakov Katz
