(JPost) New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday, June 26 the first-ever creation of a panel of advisers on Jewish-related issues.

The council will be composed of 37 members, including rabbis and community leaders of various denominations of Judaism, according to the mayor’s announcement.

“From the top of the Bronx to the bottom of Staten Island, the work and contributions of our Jewish brothers and sisters are felt across all five boroughs,” Adams said. “With antisemitic crimes up across the nation, our newly-formed Jewish Advisory Council will ensure that Jewish New Yorkers in every community have a seat at the table and have access to the support and resources the city offers.”

The initiative comes after a period in which reports of antisemitism appeared to rise. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic hate crimes in the city climbed 39% from 2021 to 2022, though they are lower so far through the same period in 2023.

The mayor’s senior adviser Joel Eisdorfer, a member of the hasidic community in Borough Park, is set to chair the inaugural council. Eisdorfer, who assumed his position in February 2022, is the first hasidic Jew to be appointed to the position of advisor to City Hall.

Eisdorfer said: “While antisemitic hate crimes are rising around the world, Mayor Eric Adams proudly, vocally and physically stands with the Jewish community at every opportunity. With the creation of this unprecedented council, the mayor is clearly showing that actions speak louder than words and that he leads from the front.”

In the 2021 race for New York city mayor, Adams saw significant support from the Orthodox voting bloc. He’s long had a strong base of support within New York City’s Orthodox Jewish communities.