Hi Corey. I can’t read the text of the article. Possible to cut and paste it here?

Every September, New York becomes the world’s diplomatic capital.

During United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week, world leaders descend on the city. So do protesters, as conflicts unfolding thousands of miles away spill onto our streets. Israel will again spark some of the loudest demonstrations.

Jewish New Yorkers know what that can mean.

We have seen anger at the Israeli government redirected toward Jewish institutions, “Zionist” used as a slur and anti-Israel rhetoric become a pretext for turning on Jews.

The context is sobering: FBI data shows that Jews were targeted in nearly two-thirds of all religiously motivated hate crimes in the United States in 2025, despite comprising only about 2% of the population. Against that backdrop, it is hardly surprising that American Jewish Committee’s State of Antisemitism in America 2025 Report found that the majority of American Jews (69%) say hearing or seeing the phrase “Globalize the Intifada”—a recurring rallying cry at anti-Israel protests—would make them feel unsafe as a Jewish person in the United States.

The phrase invokes memories of suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. For many Jews, “Globalize the Intifada” is a call for violence against Jewish people, full stop.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who previously declined to condemn the phrase, later said he would discourage its use. As UNGA approaches, that commitment matters. If the mayor is going to encourage protest—which he explicitly did this past summer—he should also be clear that opposition to the Israeli government cannot become license for rhetoric that targets Jews.

And Jewish New Yorkers should be just as clear about the boundaries we set for ourselves.

We do not have to defend every decision made by the Israeli government. We do not have to answer anyone who demands our position on Gaza before deciding whether we are one of the “good” Jews.

And we do not have to apologize for believing in the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in our ancestral homeland.

UNGA will bring governments, grievances and demonstrations to New York. But Jewish New Yorkers are not representatives of a foreign government. Our synagogues are not embassies. Our schools are not consulates. Our identities are not political talking points to be interrogated on demand.

No protest, slogan or political grievance gets to make us strangers in our own home or put a target on our backs.

Marisa Bearak is Assistant Director of AJC New York.

As Fred would say … “Right on!”  

Great piece. Thanks for reposting as it difficult to read the first time

Very well said.  Marissa is doing very important work.

Thank you Odey.  Marisa performs her work in the humble opinion of this not disinterested observer with excellence.