New York Mayor Adams Faces Backlash Over Visit to Brooklyn Jewish Community

New York City Mayor Eric Adams visited the Jewish community of Borough Park in Brooklyn on Wednesday ahead of the High Holy Days. During his visit, Adams was seen being hosted at Eichler's Judaica, a popular religious goods store. The visit, however, sparked significant backlash from some community members who view Adams as anti-Israel.

One protester, Stephanie Ben Shimol, confronted the mayor inside the store, shouting, "How dare you bring Adams here, shame on you!" She accused him of increasing antisemitism and focusing too much on Israel. Ben Shimol also questioned the store owners, asking, "Are you a Kapo? How dare you bring Adams into Eichler's? Shame on you!"

Online, many in the Jewish community expressed anger, with some vowing to boycott Eichler's ahead of the holidays. "No one, no one should buy from Eichler's anymore. They bring disaster upon us," read one post on X. Social activist Shabat Kastenbaum also stated he would not shop at the store.

Critics further labeled Adams a "Jew-hater" and accused him of supporting Hamas and "genocidal army." They expressed shame that a "Williamsburg businessman" brought him to Borough Park, accompanied by unidentifiable locals.

Adams received only about 16% of the vote in Borough Park during his mayoral election but has cultivated ties with anti-Israel Hasidic communities, such as Satmar, who reportedly support his actions against Israel. During his visit, Adams briefly addressed invited journalists, wished the community an early "Happy New Year," and heard a shofar blast.