City Leader’s Anti-Bias Appointee Previously Criticized Terror Condemnation

A newly appointed official charged with combating religious bias in the nation’s largest metropolis allegedly once expressed strong opposition to social media statements condemning militant rocket attacks on civilian population centers, according to local media reports.

Phylisa Wisdom, who now heads the municipal office tasked with addressing anti-religious sentiment, reportedly criticized remarks made by a former political candidate in 2021, observers note. The candidate had condemned armed militants for targeting civilian areas and expressed solidarity with those facing such attacks.

“As an American Jew and a New Yorker, I am floored by this tweet,” Wisdom reportedly responded at the time, according to sources familiar with the exchange. She allegedly called for municipal leadership that would “stand up for Palestinians in the face of state-sanctioned violence.”

Separate social media posts from 2009 show the official making light of missing observances on what many consider the holiest day in the religious calendar, according to archived materials reviewed by local outlets.

Wisdom describes herself as supporting a two-state solution for the regional conflict and previously led an advocacy organization that has criticized military actions in the disputed territory. Upon her appointment, she stated that her office would “ensure that Jewish safety and belonging remains at the core of this administration’s vision,” according to official statements.

However, critics have raised concerns about the appointment. A regional studies fellow told media outlets that “Zionism is not politics but identity, history, and survival of the Jewish people,” suggesting that efforts ignoring this reality “risk failing the community they are meant to protect.”

Another religious leader questioned the appointee’s understanding of the connection between the regional conflict and religious identity, noting her opposition to internationally recognized definitions of religious bias that have been adopted by numerous nations and regional governments.

The controversy comes as the municipal leader who made the appointment has himself been a frequent critic of actions taken in the regional conflict. Local lawmakers have questioned the appointment, with one elected official asking who would “take a job to supposedly fight antisemitism for a mayor who markets in antisemitism.”

The mayor defended his choice in a statement, describing the appointee as a “principled and effective leader” and expressing his intention to work with her to build a city where religious communities “are safe, seen, and able to thrive.”

The appointment occurs amid reports of rising incidents of religious bias in the metropolitan area, continuing a pattern of tensions that observers say reflects broader societal divisions over the ongoing regional conflict.