NYC Mayor Eric Adams calls himself a ‘modern day Maccabbee’ at Hanukkah event

NEW YORK — Mayor Eric Adams declares himself a “modern day Maccabbee” during a Hanukkah event held at New York City’s official mayoral residence.

Adams reflects on the history of Hanukkah in his speech to a roomful of Jewish supporters at Gracie Mansion in the Upper East Side.

“We have to ask ourselves, ‘Where are the Maccabbees today? Where are they? Who’s willing to stand up and fight for what is right?'” he says. “The symbol of the Maccabees is not only those of the Jewish faith, but it’s also those whom the Jewish people have helped throughout the years.”

He highlights the Jewish community’s contributions to other groups, such as the civil rights movement and humanitarian aid to Haiti.

“You will find that every place someone has been unfairly treated and persecuted, you saw Jewish organizations standing by and helping any way they can,” he says.

He vows to fight the “antisemitism that is rising across the entire region.”

“We’re committed to rid our city of any form of hate,” he says. “Eric Leroy Adams is a modern-day maccabee.”

New York Mayor Adams calls himself “modern day Maccabee” at Hannukkah party at his residence pic.twitter.com/jCOW1aWZDg

— Luke Tress (@luketress) December 18, 2024

Adams is introduced by the NYPD’s recently appointed commissioner, Jessica Tisch, who hails from a prominent Jewish family.

“This is a season of hope, resilience and renewal, values that resonate even more deeply this year,” Tisch says, linking the Hanukkah story to the October 7, 2023, invasion of Israel and subsequent surge in antisemitism in the United States. Jews are targeted in hate crimes in New York far more than any other group.

“Then, as now, ‘Am yisrael chai,’ the people of Israel live,” she says. “It’s a powerful message and a lesson we’re learning again today.”

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch: Hannukkah is “a powerful message and a lesson we are learning again today” pic.twitter.com/0YLmBDnK1O

— Luke Tress (@luketress) December 18, 2024

Adams is holding the yearly event as he contends with corruption charges that have thrown his reelection campaign into turmoil.

The election in the deep-blue city will likely be determined in the Democratic party primary in June. Adams faces challengers including the city comptroller, Brad Lander, a progressive Jew, and former Jewish comptroller Scott Stringer, a centrist.

Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo is reportedly considering a run for mayor and has been repeatedly speaking out against antisemitism in recent months.