Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s pick to lead the Office to Combat Antisemitism in NYC sparked controversy on Thursday — drawing both criticism from those questioning the appointee’s suitability and strong endorsements from those welcoming the move.
The mayor tapped Phylisa Wisdom to spearhead the city’s response to antisemitism, a scourge that has increased by nearly 182% last month compared to January 2025. While Wisdom led a progressive Jewish advocacy organization, her appointment is receiving backlash from some Jewish leaders who are concerned about her suitability to lead the office, which was established under the watch of former Mayor Eric Adams.
