The Rabbinical Alliance of America—Igud HaRabbonim, representing over 950 American rabbis—applauds Mayor Eric Adams’ support of the yeshiva curriculum. When asked at a press conference on December 29, 2021 whether he would bend to demands made by certain individuals whose agenda is to destroy the Yeshiva educational curriculum, Mayor Adams responded, “I visited several yeshivas during the campaign, and what I do know is that those who are there – who are teaching the students – the literature that I looked at is supportive of a well-rounded, quality education,” the at-the-time Mayor-elect said. “The small number of yeshivas that we were having problems in should not be the message for the large number of yeshivas that are doing the right thing,” he continued. “I am going to give support through my Chancellor and my office to give support to all our educational facilities. I’m not going to get caught up in a dialogue of charter schools, public schools, yeshivas – everyone will receive the support they need to develop the full potential of our children.”
“And then we need to really look at the methods that we’re using,” Adams added. “Some of the books that I saw in the yeshivas, maybe they were not Shakespeare, but they were still scholarly work… Everyone is looking at culturally sensitive education, that [has to] include yeshivas.”
Perhaps the single most important issue currently facing the Jewish community of New York City is the freedom to educate our children in a proper yeshiva environment that trains them to be good Americans and at the same time teaches them to remain true to our faith and traditions. The Yeshiva educational system has produced generations of productive, loyal, resourceful, and respectful New Yorkers who have contributed greatly to the growth of the city’s economic, civic, and cultural greatness. The vast and diverse Yeshiva system in New York City is currently thriving as it offers parents a spectrum of schools to fit each child’s unique needs. Never before in history has a Jewish parent had so many school choices as in New York City today. We at the Rabbinical Alliance of America appreciate that, thanks to the support of Mayor Adams, the Jewish community will be able to continue exercising this constitutional right of religious freedom and educate our children according to our religious traditions.
Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America stated, “Incoming Mayor Eric Adams is a true friend of all New Yorkers and he is a firm believer in cultural sensitivity and diversity. We are personally familiar with Mayor Eric Adams and consider him a good friend of the Jewish community. We are confident that he recognizes the importance of religiously and culturally sensitive education and he will do whatever is in his power to continue the success of New York City’s Yeshiva system. Nearly all of our member rabbis have attended Yeshiva from grade school through rabbinic ordination, where they learned our religious sacred texts and traditions alongside the knowledge necessary to become productive citizens of this great city and country. The Rabbinical Alliance of America therefore applauds Mayor Eric Adams and thanks him for his commitment to protect the integrity and independence of the Yeshiva educational system so that its proud graduates can continue to contribute to the diverse cultural fabric and thriving life of New York City.”