NYC Antisemitism Czar Ousted, Replaced with Activist Critical of Israel

Rabbi Moshe Davis says he was replaced by Mayor Zohran Mamdani for being a 'proud Jew' who doesn't hate Israel

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The recently ousted executive director of New York City Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, Rabbi Moshe Davis, told the Washington Free Beacon that he believes Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D.) replaced him with a left-wing activist because he is a 'proud Jew' who doesn't fit in with the new mayor's agenda. The activist, Phylisa Wisdom, has criticized Israel's actions against Hamas and once tweeted about missing Yom Kippur.

Why it matters

This move by Mayor Mamdani raises concerns about the city's commitment to combating antisemitism, as the new director of the office has expressed anti-Israel views. The Jewish community in New York City has seen a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, and there are worries that the new leadership may not effectively address the problem.

The details

Rabbi Moshe Davis, who had served as the executive director of the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism for over three years, said he believes he was replaced by Mamdani because he is a 'proud Jew' who doesn't hate Israel. Mamdani appointed Phylisa Wisdom, the leader of the left-wing group New York Jewish Agenda, to run the office. Wisdom has criticized Israel's defensive operations against Hamas as 'state-sanctioned violence' and once tweeted about how she 'totally missed Yom Kippur.'

  • Rabbi Moshe Davis was ousted from his position as executive director of the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism on Wednesday, February 7, 2026.

The players

Rabbi Moshe Davis

The recently ousted executive director of the New York City Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, who had served in the role for over three years.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani

The Democratic mayor of New York City who replaced Rabbi Moshe Davis with Phylisa Wisdom as the head of the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism.

Phylisa Wisdom

The new leader of the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, who has expressed anti-Israel views and once tweeted about missing Yom Kippur.

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What they’re saying

“I'm a proud Jew who wears my kippah on my head and is proud of my heritage and the ancient Jewish relationship with the land of Israel. Maybe that wasn't the right vibe for them.”

— Rabbi Moshe Davis, Former Executive Director, Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism (The Washington Free Beacon)

“As an American Jew and a New Yorker, I am floored by this tweet (although never surprised). NYC deserves a mayor who will stand up for Palestinians in the face of state-sanctioned violence.”

— Phylisa Wisdom, New Leader, Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism (Twitter)

What’s next

The Jewish community in New York City is closely watching how the new leadership at the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism will address the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in the city.

The takeaway

This change in leadership at the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism raises concerns about the city's commitment to addressing the growing problem of antisemitism, as the new director has expressed anti-Israel views that could undermine efforts to protect the Jewish community.