TODAY, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointment of Phylisa Wisdom as executive director of the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, advancing the administration's commitment to confronting antisemitism and all forms of hate across New York City.
"I am thrilled to welcome Phylisa Wisdom as executive director of the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism," Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani said. "Phylisa is a respected leader and powerful voice in the fight against antisemitism in New York City, Albany and across the country. Day in and day out, across all five boroughs, we will work together to root out antisemitism and build a New York City where Jewish New Yorkers are safe, respected, and free."
"I am honored and humbled to take on this role in Mayor Mamdani's administration at a truly pivotal moment for the Jewish community," said Phylisa Wisdom, incoming Executive Director of the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism. "New York City has long been a beacon of hope for the Jewish community. We will continue to ensure that Jewish safety and belonging remains at the core of this administration's vision for a more livable city. In a time of rising hatred and fear, I look forward to embracing this solemn responsibility-both to represent the diverse array of Jewish voices to City Hall in this critical moment, and to demonstrate the power of pluralistic democracy in the greatest city in the world."
Wisdom most recently served as the executive director of the New York Jewish Agenda, where she led advocacy efforts to advance the values of Jewish New Yorkers in state and local policy, politics, and public discourse. In that role, she successfully advocated for legislation in Albany to combat antisemitism and other forms of hate and testified before the New York City Council in support of increased funding for hate crime prevention. She has also worked in advocacy through the Union for Reform Judaism's Religious Action Center.
Her leadership in New York's civic and political landscape includes service as a staff member, board member, and adviser, as well as volunteer work on local and national political campaigns. She is a former elected member of the Brooklyn Democratic County Committee.
Wisdom brings extensive experience in education policy and advocacy, including work on educational equity, literacy intervention in public elementary schools, addressing COVID-era learning loss, and advancing educational equity for students in nonpublic schools.
Wisdom began her career as an educator, working with students with special educational needs, and helped establish educational intervention centers in Melbourne, Australia, and Tokyo, Japan. She later worked in public affairs at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, supporting youth anti-violence initiatives and efforts to improve LGBTQ+ public health outcomes. Wisdom attended California State University and King's College London, where she earned a master's degree in public policy.
"I'm thrilled to hear the news of my friend and @NYJewishAgenda Executive Director [Phylisa Wisdom] being named to head @NYCMayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism. I have confidence she will do an excellent job, just as she has at NYJA, of bringing diverse people together to support the safety of all Jewish New Yorkers. As New Yorkers, we are fortunate Phylisa has agreed to take on this role and I look forward to continue working closely with her in her new capacity," said Congressman Jerry Nadler.
"I have had the pleasure of working with Phylisa during her tenure at NYJA, and have found her to be consistently smart, open-minded, and collaborative. I admire her ability to build bridges in the Jewish community, and beyond, at a time when this is sorely needed. The work of the Office to Combat Antisemitism is more critical than ever. I look forward to partnering with Phylisa in this new role, and doing everything I can to help her and the office succeed in this vital work," said New York City Comptroller Mark Levine.
"What an excellent appointment by Mayor Mamdani. Phylisa Wisdom has committed her life to effectively combining her dual identities as an American, a Jew and a pluralistic progressive. The NYC Jewish community is not only enormous, it is incredibly diverse. Ms. Wisdom will increase the expertise of the Mayor's team in responding to antisemitism and bringing together our many communities," said State Senator Liz Krueger.
"Phylisa Wisdom is the perfect person to lead Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Office to Combat Antisemitism. She loves what an extraordinary & diversely Jewish place New York City is, and she'll work hard every day to keep it that way. And she's fantastic at bringing people together, across lines of difference, not only to combat hate, but to build a city of justice and dignity for all. Where Jews, and everyone else, feel safe, are respected, and can thrive in this marvelous cacophony we call home," said former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.
"Mayor Mamdani has made a smart choice in appointing Phylisa Wisdom to lead the Office to Combat Antisemitism. At this moment of weekly if not daily incidents of antisemitism city-wide, the new administration needs an experienced, respected hand to guide it toward the robust response required. Phylisa Wisdom is that, with years of relationship and strategic power building," said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism.
"It has been my distinct honor to have worked with Phylisa over the years in her role as the co-chair of the New York Jewish Coalition on Criminal Justice Reform as well as many other critical issues facing the Jewish community and the community at large. The Jewish community of New York, as well as the new administration will be well served by her caring, wisdom, and insight," said Rabbi Bob Kaplan, founding Executive Director of The Center for Shared Society of JCRC-NY.
"Phylisa loves the Jewish people and is a leader of moral clarity. She will fight antisemitism with courage and compassion," said Rabbi Rachel Timoner, Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Elohim.
