Letter to Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Chokshi in Support of Vaccine Mandates

We are writing to thank you for your decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for employees at private and religious schools, including yeshivas and Jewish schools. While this policy has its critics, we believe it is the kind of bold step New York City needs to keep our children, our educators, and our school staff safe while keeping schools open and allowing children to continue their education. We urge you to implement and enforce it fully, in close coordination with the affected communities.

Over 25 National and Local News Outlets Cover NYJA’s Rabbinic Statement on COVID-19

The New York Jewish Agenda organized over 450 rabbis to join a statement supporting the data-driven, life-saving public health measures implemented by Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio. This statement, along with our press conference on Friday, received substantial press attention, and succeeded in shifting the media narrative about the Jewish community’s position on this issue.

Don’t Rollback Bail Reform

Bail reform has worked, lowering the number of individuals in pretrial detention. During our current public health crisis, in which social distancing is paramount, bail reform helps reduce crowding in our jails and can save lives. At a time of crisis, while attention is diverted elsewhere, and while limiting population density is key, we should not make changes that would put or keep more people in jail, especially those who are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.