New York
New York City Mayor Eric Adams hosted a public Hanukkah celebration at the historic New York County Surrogate’s Courthouse (31 Chambers Street), bringing together city officials, community leaders, and members of New York’s Jewish communities for an evening centered on faith, resilience, and unity—for his last time before leaving office.
A highlight of the event was the lighting of the menorah by Rabbi Yitzhak Yehoshua, a respected Bukharian rabbi whose presence underscored the growing visibility and leadership of the Bukharian Jewish community in New York’s civic and diverse Jewish life.
The celebration came at a moment of heightened global concern over antisemitism. In his remarks, Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy emphasized Hanukkah’s enduring message of perseverance and hope.
“Hanukkah is the story of our people’s perseverance through persecution,” Levy said. “The stories of the Festival of Lights symbolize the Jewish people’s refusal to lose hope — a stubborn yet powerful refusal that has lasted for thousands of years.”
Levy noted that while Jewish communities around the world were lighting menorahs, recent antisemitic attacks abroad served as a reminder of the need for vigilance and solidarity. He praised New York City’s leadership for standing firmly with its Jewish residents, calling New York “a city with the largest Jewish population in the entire world.”
Mayor Adams, speaking directly to attendees from the floor, struck an emotional tone, emphasizing empathy and shared responsibility.
“I want you to know that your pain, I feel your pain,” the mayor said. “This is not about a piece of property in the Middle East. This is about Jewish people.”
“And they can use whatever terms they want,” he continued. “They can sugarcoat it all they want. But someone must be honest, because it wasn’t Israel when you were put in your quarters in Rome and couldn’t come out at night. It wasn’t Israel when you had to leave Spain at a particular time. It wasn’t Israel when Moses had to leave. It wasn’t Israel when the war happened and the Holocaust happened.
Drawing on the deeper meaning of the holiday, Adams reminded the audience that the word Hanukkah itself signifies dedication — dedication to truth, identity, and moral courage.
“Do not live in fear,” he urged. “Do not stop outside your synagogue and determine if you are going to go in or not… If we live in fear, they won.”
The menorah lit during the ceremony carried special symbolism: it was crafted from fragments of missiles and projectiles fired at Israel, transforming instruments of destruction into a beacon of light and hope. The piece, created by artist Eli Gross, had previously been lit in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv.
The Hanukkah event also followed a period of increased engagement between City Hall and Central Asian communities. Just last month, Mayor Adams traveled to Uzbekistan, and in late October he hosted an Uzbek Heritage event at Gracie Mansion, where members of the Bukharian community spoke, including Rabbi Nisanov.
Together, these moments reflect a broader recognition of the Bukharian Jewish community’s cultural heritage, leadership, and contributions to New York City—and reaffirm the city’s commitment to ensuring that Jewish life continues to shine openly and proudly.
As Mayor Adams said, invoking the spirit of the Maccabees:
“Even in moments of darkness… there will always be light.”
By Erin Levi