Mamdani fires antisemitism office chief, appoints replacement celebrated by progressive, anti-Israel groups

Mamdani named Phylisa Wisdom as the new head of MOCA. Wisdom is the executive director of the New York Jewish Agenda, a progressive organization. She has been critical of Chassidic schools, arguing that they do not provide adequate secular education, comments that have led many Chassidic leaders to accuse her of being anti-Chassidic.

Progressive Jewish organizations, Democratic officials, and anti-Israel groups were quick to celebrate the appointment. Jonathan Kopp, chair of the New York City chapter of J Street, called Wisdom “a smart, strategic and effective leader in New York City’s Jewish communal life” and “a great pick for this important position at this critical moment.”

Bend the Arc: Jewish Action called Wisdom “a perfect choice.” Brad Lander, a former New York City comptroller now running for Congress and a frequent critic of Israel, said Wisdom “is the perfect person for the job.” Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) said he was “thrilled” by the appointment. David Greenfield, a former New York City councilman and now chief executive of the Met Council, said “Phylisa is a strong choice to solidify Zohran’s existing left-wing Jewish supporters.”

According to the Jewish News Syndicate, the appointment sparked sharp criticism from some local leaders, particularly in Orthodox communities. “Picking Phylisa Wisdom to run an office tasked with combating antisemitism is probably the biggest gaslighting Mamdani has done so far,” said Yaakov Kaplan, vice-chair of Brooklyn Community Board 12. “Ninety percent of all antisemitic attacks were against Orthodox Jews. Picking someone for this office that Orthodox Jews see as an adversary is mind-boggling.”

As one of his first acts as mayor, Mamdani rolled back two executive orders signed by former Mayor Eric Adams: one that adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism for city agencies, and another that prohibited city employees from engaging in the antisemitic boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Mamdani has previously expressed support for the BDS movement.

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The outgoing director, Moshe Davis, said in a statement that he was proud of the office’s work but warned that combating antisemitism requires operational capacity, not symbolism. “Protecting Jewish New Yorkers has been my absolute priority,” Davis said. “Over the last nine months, I’m proud of what the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism built: real policy, interagency coordination, and tools designed to outlast headlines. Antisemitism cannot be addressed with slick videos or empty remarks. It requires policy, budgets, enforcement, and sustained follow-through.”

Davis argued that antisemitism must be treated as a core public-safety and civil-rights responsibility, noting that Jewish New Yorkers continue to account for the majority of reported hate-crime victims. “When children are making death threats against Jewish classmates, something is deeply wrong—and government must act with urgency,” he said.

He credited the previous approach with establishing an interagency task force, strengthening protections for houses of worship, pushing back against BDS, and driving concrete action across city agencies. In 2025, Davis said, the city released its first comprehensive municipal report on combating antisemitism, including a 2026 blueprint.

While wishing his successor well, Davis raised concerns about the appointment and its implications for the office’s effectiveness. “The Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism was built to be operational, not symbolic,” he said. “It requires government experience, strong agency relationships, and trust across the Jewish community to function effectively from day one. Without those foundations, there is a real risk the office will struggle to deliver when Jewish New Yorkers need it most.”

“I will be watching closely to ensure MOCA remains true to its mandate and delivers measurable results,” he added.

The leadership shakeup comes amid a surge in antisemitic hate crimes. According to newly released data from the New York Police Department, antisemitic hate crimes surged 182 percent over the past year and made up the overwhelming majority of overall hate crimes, which rose 152 percent between January 2025 and January 2026.

Several high-profile incidents have occurred since Mamdani was sworn into office. On Monday, Feb. 2, a 17-year-old student at Renaissance Charter School in Jackson Heights, Queens, allegedly sent an email threatening to kill Jewish people. Last week, a New Jersey man drove his car repeatedly into the Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters on Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. In January, at least 57 swastikas were drawn on a playground in Borough Park, Brooklyn.

Davis warned in his farewell statement, “This office will be judged by whether it delivers when Jewish New Yorkers need it most.”