Jewish counter-protesters collect in entrance of Park East Synagogue as police preserve demonstrators separated throughout a protest in opposition to a Nefesh B’Nefesh occasion on Nov. 19
Photograph by Yoav Ginsburg/ZUM
A outstanding NYC rabbi expressed cautious optimism after Mayor Zohran Mamdani quietly reinstated an Adams-era govt order that he beforehand revoked: One which directed the NYPD to higher regulate protests exterior homes of worship, together with synagogues.
Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Basis for Ethnic Understanding, applauded the mayor’s newly applied Govt Order No. 2, which echoes the path of an order that former Mayor Eric Adams had issued in December, however which Mamdani had revoked on his first day in workplace, Jan. 1.
“Establishment of zones where protest activities would be prohibited or regulated within an area of at least 15 feet and up to 60 feet from the entrance to a house of worship, or zones outside of houses of worship where protest activities are allowed,” Mamdani Govt Order 2, partially, states.
Per the order, the NYPD will even evaluate its patrol information to supply steerage on how officers should defend individuals coming into a home of worship or exercising their proper to free speech.
Schneier had advised the concept to control demonstrations close to non secular establishments throughout a telephone dialog with the mayor shortly after he was elected on Nov. 4, 2025. An illustration exterior the Park East Synagogue, run by Schneier’s father, Arthur, in November, prompted the telephone dialog.
Schneier referred to as the brand new govt order a “welcomed” transfer from the brand new administration.
Revocation of different Adams’ orders ‘troublesome’
Regardless that Mamdani applied the brand new protections, he revoked others on Jan. 1 that centered across the official definition of antisemitism and metropolis investments in Israel—each of which have been put in place by the mayor’s rapid predecessor, Eric Adams.
Schneier doesn’t agree with the revocation of the 2 orders as they harm protections for Jewish New Yorkers and don’t assist recognizing Israel as a Jewish state.
“That’s troublesome,” he stated. “Those two orders deal with the state of Israel.”
In June 2025, Adams signed a historic govt order to acknowledge the Worldwide Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, which some have stated can embody criticism of Israel’s authorities as antisemitic.
Later, on Dec. 2, Adams’ order No. 60 was established to ban metropolis officers and appointees who deal with contracts from discriminating in opposition to Israel, Israelis or these linked to the Center Jap nation of their buying choices.
Mamdani used his authority as mayor to clean the protections, in addition to an inventory of different govt orders established by Adams after his Sept. 26, 2024, federal indictment for bribery, marketing campaign finance and conspiracy offenses.
Though the fees have been finally dismissed on April 2, 2025, Mamdani stated upon taking workplace that he wished a “fresh start” for his administration.
“Today marks the first step in building an administration that works for all New Yorkers,” Mamdani stated on Jan. 1. “We’ve established the foundations of it, and now it’s time to ship on our affordability agenda, deal with the challenges dealing with New Yorkers, and usher in a brand new period for New York Metropolis — one which proves that authorities can ship for working individuals.
Responding to ‘pro-Hamas’ language at protests
In the meantime, a protest in opposition to land gross sales within the Center East’s West Financial institution happened at a Yeshiva of Central Queens synagogue on Jan. 7, only a week after Mamdani took workplace.
Through the demonstration, protestors chanted messages reminiscent of, “Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here,” prompting swift responses from space politicians, however a gradual one from the mayor. His next-day assertion stated, partially, “that we saw in Kew Gardens Hills last night are wrong and have no place in our city.”
Schneier applauded the mayor’s response however was appalled at how late it was introduced.
“He had a belated response. He did not react the way that Gov. Hochul did or [Council Speaker] Julie Menin did,” Schneier stated. “But you have to give him credit, he did condemn the protestors for their chant.”
Rabbi Marc SchneierCourtesy Rabbi Marc Schneier
Mamdani continues to boost issues amongst many New Yorkers as his refusal to acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state stays steadfast. To Schneier and others, any demonization of Israel will “only lead to physical attacks on Jews” in NYC.
“He has yet to publicly recognize or acknowledge the existence of the state of Israel as a Jewish state. That continues to be problematic,” the rabbi stated.
Nonetheless, Schneier, ever the optimist, stays hopeful that the Mamdani administration will enhance its relations with Jewish New Yorkers.
“I’m looking at the cup half full, not half empty,” he stated. “It’s a process.”
