On Tuesday, Dec. 18, New York’s Jewish leaders gathered at Gracie Mansion for Mayor Eric Adams’ annual Chanukah reception. Menashe Shapiro, deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to the mayor, welcomed the crowd and thanked Adams for demonstrating his unique devotion to “the cultural mosaic that is New York City.” Sponsors included UJA-Federation, JCRC-NY and the ADL.
Consul General of Israel Ofir Akunis thanked Adams, “not just for hosting this beautiful event, but for standing with Israel and American Jews the past 14 difficult months. Mayor Adams, in your last speech I heard at Gracie Mansion, you stated an obvious truth. ‘Across America, antisemitic and anti-Israel protesters are a small minority. They make a lot of noise, but in truth, America stands with Israel.’ Mayor Adams, you are correct.”
Akunis added, “I call on everyone to raise your voices, just like Mayor Adams, and loudly defend the truth. Indeed, courage, optimism and morality are the story of Chanukah. Two thousand years ago, Greek armies occupied and oppressed Israel. In response, Jewish communities rose up and renewed their traditional ways of life. The light of the menorah is the proof, then and now. For 2,000 years, this is what we have celebrated. Not just hope and joy, but something concrete; the defense and return of Jewish role in our holy land.”
Shapiro described hakarat hatov: “It’s not just thanking somebody for what has been done, but we thank God for what’s about to be done. “The mayor always reminds us that our first responders run toward danger, not away from it. Answering that call is our new police commissioner, Jessica Tisch.”
Tisch, the 48th police commissioner and first Jewish female NYPD commissioner, began, “It is my honor to be here with you at Gracie Mansion as we gather to preemptively celebrate Chanukah. This is a season of hope, resilience and renewal, values that resonate even more deeply this year. Chanukah is the story of Jews under attack, when our religion was outlawed and our traditions banned. The Temple was shut, but our people were not defeated. The Temple was liberated, rededicated and then, as now, Am Yisrael Chai, the people of Israel live. It’s a powerful message and a lesson we’re learning again today.”
Tisch continued, “We cannot gather without acknowledging the immense pain we’ve carried since Oct. 7; the hate spewed at so many in our Jewish communities here in New York and around the world. Chanukah is the festival of lights. In times of darkness, leadership matters. In those moments, people need strength, compassion and unwavering support. Mayor Adams, a light for our community, stood with us, shoulder to shoulder, sending a clear message: hate will never find a home in our city. He has shown both moral clarity and courage that defines this holiday. Mr. Mayor, your commitment to the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers has never wavered.”
Adams remarked, “During 164 BCE, the Maccabees were strong enough to stand up and fight for what is right; to reclaim what was deserving to be in the right hands. Where are the Maccabees today? Who’s willing to stand up and fight for what is right? The symbol of the Maccabees is not only those of the Jewish faith, but also those who the Jewish people helped throughout the years.”
Adams continued, “If you do an analysis of the history of your community, you will find that in every place where someone was being unfairly treated and persecuted, Jewish organizations stand by, helping any way they can. In New York City, the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, there is no more significant place to understand that your safety is in the hands of a police commissioner that understands what it is to have a city fight against hate in general, but specifically antisemitism that is rising across the entire country. As we watch the radicalization of our young people, we must push back and not take the posture that hopefully this would just go away. That’s not true.”
Adams reflected, “When I walked the streets and camps in Krakow, Poland, there were those that stated it would just pass by. In Rome’s Jewish ghetto, when Jews had to be back in the ghetto before nightfall, there were those who said it would just go away. Let this generation be the generation where we don’t sit back and idly hope for it to go away, that we stand up and say it’s not going to exist in the first place. Let’s lead the way. Let’s stand tall and unite with other groups to say hate has no place in our city, our country and the entire globe. I’m going to do my part. I know you’re going to do your part.”
Adams proudly exclaimed, “I want to be extremely clear on this Chanukah, Eric Leroy Adams is a modern-day Maccabee.”
To conclude, Community Affairs Unit Jewish Liaison Moshe Davis introduced student leaders who have “amplified Jewish pride, inspired their peers, a beacon of light in an environment that’s quite hostile.” Tali Dardashtian from New York University, represented “Jewish on Campus”; Danielle Babaev represented Queens College Hillel; Stand With Us Fellow Maya Gavriel represented Baruch Hillel; and Noam Waldenberg represented Columbia Chabad.
Davis also introduced honoree Lizzy Savetsky, “a trailblazer in social media and activism. She uses her platform to empower Jewish people to take pride in their identity, stand strong in the face of adversity, and embrace Judaism in all its forms.” The third honoree, Achiezer, represented by Rabbi Baruch Ber Bender, about which Davis said: “Achiezer supports families in their most difficult moments, from illness to financial crises, with care and compassion.” The fourth honoree, Achim B’Yachad, “serves the community, providing emotional support for children and families experiencing serious illness,” said Davis. The final honoree, represented by Rabbi Yaniv Meirov, Davis introduced as “Chazaq, dedicated to building a stronger Jewish future with community development and education, strengthening Jewish identity and a guiding light for countless individuals and families.” All received proclamations from the mayor.
