Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams’s strong showing and victory in New York City’s Democratic primary for mayor reflected on his unique ability to build a unified coalition that united Black and Latino communities along with strong support from the entire Jewish community throughout the city. Eric was able to persuade working-class people, largely outside Manhattan, that he was the best candidate to make the city safe from crime and to revitalize its economic health. Adams, a former police captain, has built his campaign around a public safety message and reducing violent crimes across the city, an area which he possesses great expertise in.

Eric Adams has maintained long-standing ties with the Orthodox leadership, particularly in Queens, as well as Hasidic enclaves of Brooklyn like Borough Park and Crown Heights, a neighborhood he represented for many years as state senator.

In April, after placing first in a number of public polls, Andrew Yang earned the support of a coalition of Hasidic sects in Borough Park and Williamsburg, followed by endorsements from three influential Orthodox elected officials—Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal, and City Councilman Kalman Yeger.

The early endorsement of Yang came as a big shock and surprise to many leaders who have had a close and warm relationship with Eric Adams for decades. A lack of hakaras hatov, appreciation, to one of the Jewish community’s strongest allies in New York City just did not make sense to the Jewish community’s broad leadership across the five boroughs.

However, as the campaign picked up steam, it became apparent that reducing crime and an upsurge in anti-Semitic attacks became the key issue. As well as the hope in restoring the stagnant economy.

What happened was the beginning of heartfelt, solid, powerful, meaningful, and strong endorsements for Eric Adams by leading Jewish coalitions and powerbrokers. The Crown Heights coalition led by Rabbi Chanina Sperling and Rabbi Yaakov Berhman, the Staten Island Coalition led by Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, and the Far Rockaway-Queens Coalition led by Richard Altabe and Pesach Osina. This was followed by leadership of Satmar and the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition and the Sephardic Community Federation.

The united coalitions, which are the true united voice of the city’s Jewish community and reflect its strongest leaders, united strongly and passionately and vehemently endorsed Eric Adams for Mayor and were all united in praising Eric Adams as the right person to lead the city out of these difficult times as we look for a leader that stood with us in all of our struggles.

Mark Meyer Appel, founder and president of the Bridge Multicultural Project, a coalition that unifies all the diverse communities of New York City and from the strong early supporters of Eric Adams, remarked, “What happened in the mayor’s race is truly historic. I personally witnessed Eric becoming familiarized by the united City Jewish coalition who pleasantly learned who the true gentleman, friend, and leader Eric is. At the end of the day, the sincerity, altruism, passion, and hope that Eric has for the city is the reason why he justly won the hearts, minds, and souls of the Jewish community. I can only envision how great a mayor Eric Adams will be. It will happen thanks to the work of these great Jewish leaders who stood up for a person of conviction who they believe in. History will record how correct these courageous leaders were.”

The Jewish community’s support will continue to grow through November 2, 2021, Election Day, and will be there through what will hopefully become the Adams administration. 

2 COMMENTS

  1. Eric Adams is committed to perpetuate the longstanding educational neglect that is happening in New York City Haredi yeshivas.
    He cares so little for Jewish children. I wonder if this is a concern in the Five Towns.

  2. His election is only a win for us if he follows through in office. Not guaranteed! We’ve been lied to by Mayoral candidates before.

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