First-Ever Jewish Advisory Council Meets Today at City Hall

By Yehudit Garmaise

New York City boasts the country’s highest Jewish population, but before today, a Jewish Advisory Council (JAC) has never met at City Hall to discuss issues related to Jewish public safety, quality of life, and education.

Hand-picked from New York City’s diverse Jewish communities comprised of more than 1.6 million Jews, 37 Jewish leaders will gather to serve on the City’s first-ever JAC, chaired by Boro Park’s own Joel Eisdorfer, senior advisor to Mayor Eric Adams.

“The Jewish community is extremely fortunate to have a mayor who has a deep understanding of the challenges facing the Jewish community,” says Eisdorfer. “While anti-Semitic hate crimes are rising around the world, Mayor Eric Adams proudly, vocally, and physically stands with the Jewish community at every opportunity.”

“We need advisory boards, so we have a place in which we can come up with ideas and discuss our challenges in our communities vs. the challenges faced by the general public,” says Masbia’s Executive Alexander Rapaport, who will serve on the mayor’s JAC. “We all have a lot of ideas to throw around. 

Increased efforts to bring down the shockingly high rates of hate crimes directed at visibly Orthodox Jews in New York City is one issue that Rapaport wants to broach with the mayor, he tells BoroPark24.

One reason that Orthodox Jews might be the most targeted for hate crimes in New York City could be that, in some ways, frum Yidden are not so visible outside of their neighborhoods.

“I want to encourage the City to include more stock photos of religious Jews,” said Rapaport, who has other ideas as well.

“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,” says Mayor Adams.

Photo Credit: Hamodia