New York Mayor Eric Adams met with former hostages at Kfar Maccabiah Hotel in Ramat Gan on Sunday, where he expressed his continued commitment to fighting rising antisemitism and to the people of Israel.
The meeting was made possible by the support of Maccabi World Union, which accommodated the former hostages, including Yarden Bibas, Bar Kuperstein, and Sagi Dekel Chen.
“This is especially challenging when you think about the conclusion of the conflict in Gaza and return of the family members who were held hostage, but you know we cannot be naive to believe that the battle is over,” Adams said during a speech he delivered at the center.
“It is very painful to witness the rise in antisemitism, but you have demonstrated incredible resourcefulness. As a child, I was told that if you live long enough, you will experience pain and must find ways to turn pain into purpose. So must you - the hostages and your families - who have endured unimaginable horrors; you must find a reason to keep moving forward.”
NY Mayor Eric Adams stresses the importance of fighting antisemitism
Adams asserted that it was essential to “Remain steadfast” in the fight against antisemitism.
“The issue has never been just about Gaza - it has always been, and continues to be, the attempt to destroy Israel and the Jewish people,” he said, speaking on the international increase of antisemitic incidents since Hamas’s October 7 attacks in 2023 and the war that followed.
“This has happened throughout history, from the Romans, through the Nazis, to the present day.
“Jews have always been forced to flee. If we are not vigilant and do not take timely action, we will see antisemitism intensify and spread worldwide,” the New York mayor warned.
“Antisemitism persists, even on social media, often accompanied by denial or downplaying of hatred. But we will not allow the deniers to obscure the truth. The time to act is now. We must unite to protect the Jewish people.”
Telling the attendees he was a “brother” to them, Adams promised to continue to “stand by” them.
He shared that he had visited Israel before taking office, and now that he is about to leave the role, he wanted to return to “say thank you. Thank you for your contributions to the community, to the city, and to me personally.