NYC Mayor Eric Adams Forms a Jewish Advisory Council

By COLlive reporter

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the formation of the city’s first-ever Jewish Advisory Council on Sunday.

Members of the newly-formed council will focus on all issues affecting Jewish New Yorkers, including public safety, quality of life, and education, and will ensure Jewish communities across New York City are connected with all of the city’s resources and services available.

Chaired by Joel Eisdorfer, senior advisor to Mayor Adams, the council will be comprised of 37 members and will convene regularly to discuss issues affecting the city’s Jewish community.

“Our Jewish community — the largest in the world outside of Israel — is a critical part of New York City,” said Adams. “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. 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 establishment of the Jewish Advisory Council demonstrates the Adams administration’s commitment to fostering strong relationships with the Jewish community in New York City,” said New York City Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Fred Kreizman. “The Jewish community is valued and vital to the vibrancy of New York City’s culture. I look forward to working together with Jewish community leaders from all five boroughs to address issues and ensure access to city resources.”

“The Jewish community is extremely fortunate to have a mayor who has a deep understanding of the challenges facing the Jewish community,” said Eisdorfer. “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.”

“I’ve seen firsthand Mayor Adams’ commitment to the Jewish community,” said Deputy Chief of Staff Menashe Shapiro. “Regardless of your denomination, affiliation, or sect, New York’s Jewish community has a mayor who understands the unique cultural and ethnic sensibilities of the Jewish community and who is dedicated to ensuring their needs are met and everyone is safe and secure.”

The council includes Jewish leaders from all five boroughs and across sectors, including not-for-profit organizations, community-based organizations, and religious leaders. Joining from Crown Heights are Rabbi Chanina Sperlin, Executive VP of Governmental Affairs at Crown Heights Jewish Community Council (CHJCC), and Mrs. Devorah Halberstam, co-founder and director of external affairs at the Jewish Children’s Museum and Chairwoman of NYPD’s Hate Crime Review Panel.

“Mayor Adams is an unwavering champion of the Jewish community and has been a steadfast ally for years,” said Rabbi Sperlin. “Whether during his tenure representing Crown Heights in the state senate or in his current position as NYC mayor, he has consistently demonstrated unwavering support and genuine concern. Through his unwavering dedication and articulate advocacy, he tirelessly strives to promote unity and harmony, thereby leaving an indelible impact on the Jewish community and beyond.

“Additionally, he has assembled an exceptional team, including his senior adviser Joel Eisdofer, Menashe Shapiro – Deputy Chief of Staff, Commissioner Fred Kreizman of the CAU, Chief Advisor Ingrid Lewis-Martin who are always here for the greater Jewish community,” Sperlin told COLlive.com.

Mrs. Halberstam said: “Mayor Adams has always been a visionary. This advisory council represents and includes a wide spectrum of the Jewish community. I hope we will be able to advise the Mayor on issues and needs of our community. Safety first, including the antisemitic incidents happening in this city and the importance of educating our youth about our history and culture.”

The full list of members as released by the Mayor’s office (COLlive is not responsible for the accuracy of the titles):

Rabbi Rachel Ain
Rabbi Joseph Beyda
Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove
Rabbi Joshua Davidson
Abe Eisner
Rabbi Danielle Ellman
Rabbi Efraim Fink
Shia Friedman
Rabbi Diana Gerson
David Greenfield
Amy Guss
Devorah Halberstam
Rabbi Moshe Indig
Yossi Itzkowitz
Rabbi Yechiel Kalish
Jack Kliger
Rabbi Bini Kraus
Rabbi Yossi Levine
Ruth Lichtenstein
Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik
Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov
Shimi Pelman
Howard Pollack
Rabbi Joseph Potasnik
Hindy Poupko
Alex Rapaport
Rabbi Boruch Rothman
Rabbi Joanna Sammuels
Joe Shamie
Rabbi Daniel Sherman
Rabbi Chanina Sperlin
Mina Sputz
Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz
Rabbi Yaakov Tesser
Steve Weill
Rabbi Itzak Yehoshua
Rabbi Dovid Zirkind