New York Mayor Adams Faces Backlash During Brooklyn Visit

New York City Mayor Eric Adams visited Borough Park, a prominent Hasidic Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, on Wednesday, days before Rosh Hashanah. The visit began with a festive atmosphere, including a shofar (ram's horn) and honey, as Adams toured Eichler's Judaica store to meet community members and observe holiday preparations.

However, the mood shifted when a woman approached Adams, filming him while sharply criticizing his stance on Israel and his handling of antisemitism. She accused his rhetoric regarding Israel and the Jewish community of contributing to rising antisemitism in New York. Adams, who has been a controversial figure due to his past criticisms of Israeli policy and support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, was also reportedly told by the woman that she did not believe he belonged in a Jewish store so close to Rosh Hashanah.

The confrontation was brief. Security intervened, removing the woman from the store, and Adams was quickly escorted out. Adams has previously stated he cannot support Israel as a Jewish state, as he opposes countries that grant preferential status to a specific religion. This position has drawn significant criticism from parts of the New York Jewish community.

In August, Adams met with rabbis who warned him that his rhetoric on Israel was perceived by some as "slandering" the country, making Jews in New York feel less secure. He also previously called AIPAC, a major pro-Israel lobbying group in the U.S., "monsters" and drew criticism for comparing the NYPD's actions to the IDF in 2023.

The visit occurred amidst concerning statistics on hate crimes in New York City, which rose by 9.4% in the period examined, with Jews being the target in 56.9% of cases.