Jewish Activist Confronts NYC Mayor Adams Over Antisemitism

New York City Mayor Eric Adams faced a direct confrontation with Israeli-American activist Stephanie Ben Shimol during a visit to Eichler's, a Judaica store in Borough Park, Brooklyn, on Wednesday. Ben Shimol, founder of United Zionists and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, accused Adams of fueling antisemitism and stated he does not represent the United States.

"Antisemitism is because of you, you are not the representative of the US for the world!" Ben Shimol declared, confronting Adams at close range. She reminded him of the hostage releases during the previous year and blamed him for the rise in antisemitism, expressing outrage that he would visit Borough Park, a place her grandparents found refuge after the Holocaust. "Stop the antisemitism, you have all the power to stop the antisemitism. I beg you as a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors," she pleaded.

When store employees and bystanders attempted to remove Ben Shimol, she turned her anger towards them, accusing them of currying favor with a politician instead of defending the community. She questioned one employee, "Are you a Kapo? Do you support him? Do you support Israel?" and criticized the store's management, "Shame on you Eichler's, shame on you for allowing Eric Adams to come to the heart of the Jewish neighborhood in Borough Park! They want to curry favor with a hater of the entire Jewish people!"

Adams, who was touring the store and observed a shofar being sounded for an upcoming holiday, did not respond to Ben Shimol's accusations and continued his visit. Ben Shimol later posted a video outside the store, expressing distress over being pushed out and noting that people were more interested in taking selfies with Adams than addressing her concerns.

The confrontation occurred against the backdrop of recent NYPD data showing a 9.4% increase in hate crimes in the city, with 56.9% targeting Jews, who constitute only about 10% of the population.