Speaker Julie Menin Unveils Five-Point Action Plan to Combat Antisemitism and Strengthen Community Safety

City Council announces 5-point legislative and funding package focused on education, protecting schools and houses of worship, and resources to confront hate

Includes new commitment of $1.25 million over 2 years to the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust

NEW YORK, NY - New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin today announced a comprehensive, Council-led package of legislative and funding actions to combat antisemitism, strengthen protections for schools and all houses of worship, and expand Holocaust education citywide. The announcement was made at the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, alongside Council Members, faith leaders, and community advocates.

The City Council's Five-Point Action Plan to Combat Antisemitism is a proactive approach to addressing rising antisemitism through concrete action, pairing education and prevention with enhanced public safety, data collection, and accountability, while firmly upholding constitutional protections and the rights of all New Yorkers.

"At a moment of rising antisemitism, the City Council is taking decisive, responsible action to invest in education, strengthen protections for schools and houses of worship, support community safety, and ensure we have the tools to confront antisemitism wherever it appears," said Speaker Julie Menin. "As the first Jewish Speaker of the City Council, and as the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, this issue is deeply personal to me. These actions are about protecting New Yorkers, and ensuring that hatred, harassment, and intimidation are never normalized in our city."

The Council's action comes amid a documented rise in antisemitic incidents nationwide and heightened concerns about safety around religious institutions in New York City. According to the NYPD, antisemitic incidents accounted for 57% of reported hate crimes in 2025, although only approximately 10% of New York City residents are Jewish. Jewish New Yorkers were the targets of hate crimes more than all other groups combined.

The City Council's Five-Point Action Plan to Combat Antisemitism includes:

1. Major New Investment in Holocaust Education and Legislation to Address Discriminatory Misinformation

The Council will allocate $1.25 million in new funding over two fiscal years to the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust - including $250,000 through the end of FY26 and $1 million in FY27 - a significant increase over current annual funding levels. The investment will support the development of a new virtual Holocaust education experience, expanded school outreach, and broader access for students citywide, complementing existing in-person programming. The Council will also introduce legislation to require the Department of Education to distribute materials to students regarding the ways that social media use can contribute to antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate.

2. Schools and Houses of Worship Access and Safety Act

New legislation will establish a safe perimeter around entrances and exits of houses of worship, prohibiting harassment and intimidation of individuals while preserving First Amendment rights. The measure is designed to ensure New Yorkers can safely attend religious services without fear or obstruction.

3. Private School Security Infrastructure Reimbursement Program

The Council will establish a needs-based reimbursement program to help private schools install security camera systems, prioritizing institutions with limited resources. The program is designed to enhance student safety at schools lacking the necessary resources. Many private and parochial schools serve low- and moderate-income families and lack access to funding available to public schools. This program is needs-based and narrowly focused on safety infrastructure.

4. Community-Based Security Training Initiative

A new city-supported program will fund security training for Jewish organizations and institutions, as well as organizations of all denominations, with a focus on smaller, community-based institutions that may lack access to professional safety planning and preparedness resources.

5. Antisemitism Incident Reporting and Data Act

The Council will establish a dedicated hotline to report incidents of antisemitism, housed within the NYC Commission on Human Rights. The Commission will be tasked with tracking incident frequency, geographic patterns, and trends, and reporting findings to inform future policy and enforcement.

The announcement builds on Speaker Menin's long-standing leadership on Holocaust education and combating antisemitism. In 2024, she spearheaded a landmark public-private partnership to send all eighth-grade public and charter school students to the Museum of Jewish Heritage, expanding access to Holocaust education for tens of thousands of students citywide. That initiative, one of the most ambitious of its kind in the country, was designed to confront antisemitism at its roots through education, dialogue, and historical understanding.

"Education is our most powerful tool in confronting antisemitism, and Speaker Menin has consistently understood that truth," said Jack Kliger, President and CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. "Her leadership and this historic investment in the Museum's educational programming will allow us to reach more students, expand innovative learning experiences, and ensure that Holocaust education remains a living, relevant force for New York City's young people. We are deeply grateful for her partnership and her unwavering commitment to education as a foundation for understanding, empathy, and civic responsibility."

"Every New Yorker should feel safe and be safe. As Jewish New Yorkers face growing threats of antisemitism, words of encouragement and sympathy are not enough," said Council Member Eric Dinowitz, Chair of the Jewish Caucus. "Our laws, budget, and initiatives must directly confront the ever-growing threat of antisemitism. Data must be transparent, houses of worship and educational institutions must be protected, and smart investments must be made to educate our youth and secure sensitive locations. I am proud to stand with Speaker Menin as we proactively confront the threats facing Jewish New Yorkers."

"I commend Speaker Menin for putting forward a comprehensive plan that addresses rising antisemitism with concrete actions in education, prevention, and security," said Deputy Speaker Nantasha Williams. "In a time when many are living with heightened fear, it's more important than ever for New York City to take proactive steps to ensure that everyone can exercise their basic right to safety, to live, worship, and gather without fear. Measures like these are a critical first step, not just protecting people, but giving New Yorkers confidence in their city and leaders and building the trust and resilience our neighborhoods need to thrive."

"The City of New York is a diverse metropolis, shaped by cultures from every corner of the world. It is this diversity that strengthens our unity and defines who we are. Yet, there remain ill-intended ideologies that seek to divide us by exploiting our differences," said Council Member Yusef Salaam, Chair of the Committee to Combat Hate. "As Chair of the Committee to Combat Hate, I am committed to confronting and dismantling the root causes of hate, while standing firmly against those who seek to sow division. We will protect and uplift the beautiful mosaic that is New York City."

"As antisemitic attacks continue to rise in New York at an alarming rate, Speaker Menin and the City Council are meeting this moment with real leadership and meaningful action," said Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. "This five-point plan will help ensure the safety and security of our community while tackling antisemitism before it takes root through the kind of education initiatives JCRC-NY continues to advocate for. JCRC-NY applauds Speaker Menin for her unwavering commitment to protecting Jewish New Yorkers and confronting hate in all its forms."

"Jewish communities across New York City are facing real and growing threats, and Speaker Menin and the City Council are meeting this moment with action," said Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation of NY. This plan strengthens security for our institutions, invests meaningfully in Holocaust education, and builds accountability to confront antisemitism. UJA is grateful for the Council's partnership and for Speaker Menin's leadership in helping ensure that Jewish New Yorkers can live, pray, and gather safely in our city."

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