POLITICS: The rise of antisemitic violence in NYC: Letters

The Issue: A rise in violence against Jewish New Yorkers amid a growing acceptance of antisemitism.

As of January 2026, we will have a mayor who appears to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing when it comes to the welfare of Jews who live in this city (“Violence sheds its Gaza veil,” Editorial, Dec. 18).

If Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani chooses to defund the police, we will see the perfect storm of hate crimes unfold in all five boroughs.

My hope is that all New Yorkers with goodwill can come together to fight hate in all forms. I suggest contacting the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes to find out what can be done to mitigate this eventuality. Not being proactive and turning a blind eye in the face of hate is a crime itself.

Martin Garfinkle

Staten Island

The recent attack on Jewish subway passengers is just the beginning of things to come.

Mamdani’s appointees have a pedigree of antisemitism and hatred for the police, meaning there won’t be a viable police presence or orders to act when citizens are threatened.

It’s time for Jews to re-evaluate the viability of a safe life in this city.

Michael Horowitz

Fresh Meadows

Mamdani and others like him are the source of support for terrorism and antisemitism. They are not willing or able to put an end to these radical, ugly and dangerous problems.

Make no mistake, our fragile democracy is under attack.

T. Birnbaum

Manhattan

I was truly shocked when I first learned many Jews voted for the biggest antisemite for mayor. I don’t know whether to feel sorry or concerned about what’s going on now and what will happen in the future of New York City when there are Jews who don’t care.

We have seen this before, but apparently some will never learn from history. I pray this all stops, but I’m afraid it won’t.

Philip Vallone

Ossining

Family members who were Holocaust survivors often said, “Always be aware and never take anything for granted.” Also: “Hatred of Jews is everywhere throughout the world, even here in our own seemingly safe and beloved America. It’s only a matter of time before it erupts,” they would warn. Well, it has erupted. How prophetic and truly alarming.

S.P. Hersh

Lawrence

Lower crime statistics in NYC are of no consolation to the visibly Jewish people who are being assaulted. A Chabad Hasid shouldn’t have to put his life on the line every time he steps out, but that’s how it must feel to them.

Zachary Margolies

Philadelphia, Pa.

The Issue: President Trump ordering a “total and complete” oil blockade of Venezuela.

A navy blockade is an act of war and therefore, President Trump cannot be allowed to blockade Venezuela without congressional approval, as stipulated in the Constitution (“Making Venezuela Sanctions Real,” Editorial, Dec. 18).

Sending US military personnel into harm’s way is the responsibility of Congress and cannot be delegated by the president.

Ed Houlihan

Ridgewood, NJ

The Post should be asking if Trump has the legal authority to order a naval blockade, and if the objective of his boat strikes is to prevent drugs from reaching the United States, as he claims, or to put more pressure on Maduro to step down, as Chief of Staff Susie Wiles claims. He’s never sought any congressional authority for either boat strikes or a blockade.

You say that starving Maduro of oil exports is the right move, but it isn’t. Trump would be wise to rethink the wisdom of getting our nation involved in another foreign entanglement.

J.J. Crovatto

Ramsey, NJ

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