Rabbi Ammi Hirsch
@ammihirsch.bsky.social
Senior Rabbi at NYC's Stephen Wise Free Synagogue | 'In These Times' Podcast Host | Champion of Reform Judaism, liberal values, Zionism & Jewish peoplehood
What starts with the Jews never ends with the Jews. Sderot will come to Sydney. Be’eri will come to Brooklyn. Nir Oz will come to Notting Hill. First the Jews, then the Jews of the West, then the West itself...
December 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM
What starts with the Jews never ends with the Jews. Sderot will come to Sydney. Be’eri will come to Brooklyn. Nir Oz will come to Notting Hill. First the Jews, then the Jews of the West, then the West itself...
Hollywood was built by Jews — but for decades, #Jewish identity has been something to downplay. Jonah Platt reflects on how fear and self-censorship have shaped Jewish representation, and why October 7th was a wake-up call. Our full convo --> youtu.be/dP87wcbPl7g
December 23, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Hollywood was built by Jews — but for decades, #Jewish identity has been something to downplay. Jonah Platt reflects on how fear and self-censorship have shaped Jewish representation, and why October 7th was a wake-up call. Our full convo --> youtu.be/dP87wcbPl7g
“Globalize the Intifada” means #BondiBeach. There is a direct connection between hateful words and hateful deeds. And there is a direct connection between hatred of #Israel and hatred of Jews.
December 22, 2025 at 7:43 PM
“Globalize the Intifada” means #BondiBeach. There is a direct connection between hateful words and hateful deeds. And there is a direct connection between hatred of #Israel and hatred of Jews.
It's easy for us to recognize "classic" #antisemitism, but Jonah Platt explains why it can be harder — especially for young Jews — to recognize #antizionism that goes beyond legitimate political critique as modern antisemitic libel. Our full convo --> youtu.be/dP87wcbPl7g
December 22, 2025 at 6:39 PM
It's easy for us to recognize "classic" #antisemitism, but Jonah Platt explains why it can be harder — especially for young Jews — to recognize #antizionism that goes beyond legitimate political critique as modern antisemitic libel. Our full convo --> youtu.be/dP87wcbPl7g
I was part of a group of rabbis who met again with @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social. While we were pleased to be able to discuss our concerns with the mayor-elect, those concerns remain. We've never before had a mayor who has expressed this kind of ideological hostility to the very existence of #Israel..
December 15, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I was part of a group of rabbis who met again with @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social. While we were pleased to be able to discuss our concerns with the mayor-elect, those concerns remain. We've never before had a mayor who has expressed this kind of ideological hostility to the very existence of #Israel..
It is incumbent upon responsible Western leaders to push hard against the normalization of #antisemitism & #antiZionism. My primary concern since Oct. 7 has been the danger anti-Zionism poses. We mourn today with #Australia’s #Jewish community. Thoughts via @jonesieman.bsky.social @nytimes.com:
‘The Feeling of Being Under Siege’: U.S. Rabbis React to Sydney Attack
www.nytimes.com
December 14, 2025 at 9:19 PM
It is incumbent upon responsible Western leaders to push hard against the normalization of #antisemitism & #antiZionism. My primary concern since Oct. 7 has been the danger anti-Zionism poses. We mourn today with #Australia’s #Jewish community. Thoughts via @jonesieman.bsky.social @nytimes.com:
This is precisely what I feared: the effort to separate the Jewish people’s yearning for self-determination from Judaism itself.
Zohran Mamdani distanced himself from a widely criticized demonstration outside a prominent synagogue in Manhattan, where anti-Israel protesters were heard chanting “Death to the IDF” and “Globalize the intifada,” even as he suggested that the event violated international law.
Mamdani distances himself from anti-Israel protesters outside Manhattan synagogue
But he also suggested that the synagogue event, which provided information on immigrating to Israel, violated international law
jewishinsider.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:14 PM
This is precisely what I feared: the effort to separate the Jewish people’s yearning for self-determination from Judaism itself.
Last Friday night at the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, I addressed the election of @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social. Here is my full sermon —> youtu.be/kFkmR7AW-HU
On the Election of Zohran Mamdani
YouTube video by Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Last Friday night at the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, I addressed the election of @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social. Here is my full sermon —> youtu.be/kFkmR7AW-HU
[email protected] wears many media hats & has gleaned a ton from reporting for Israel's News 12, @axios.com & @cnn.com. Having covered Oct 7/post war, I asked him if he feels the media has covered #Israel appropriately. His answer might surprise you👇| Full episode: apple.co/47DHghx
November 6, 2025 at 4:53 PM
[email protected] wears many media hats & has gleaned a ton from reporting for Israel's News 12, @axios.com & @cnn.com. Having covered Oct 7/post war, I asked him if he feels the media has covered #Israel appropriately. His answer might surprise you👇| Full episode: apple.co/47DHghx
I congratulate @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social on his election as #NYC mayor and applaud the democratic process. The peaceful transfer of power is the bedrock of our republic — a sacred pillar of American democracy that must never be taken for granted...
November 5, 2025 at 3:37 PM
I congratulate @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social on his election as #NYC mayor and applaud the democratic process. The peaceful transfer of power is the bedrock of our republic — a sacred pillar of American democracy that must never be taken for granted...
I connected w/ @jewishinsider.com's Haley Cohen & reiterated: I am not prepared to overlook mayoral hopefuls who express #antiZionism. A line needs to be drawn. It disenfranchises & delegitimizes #Judaism itself. It leads to an intensification of #antisemitism:
jewishinsider.com/2025/10/rabb...
jewishinsider.com/2025/10/rabb...
Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch: Opposition to Mamdani is a Jewish ‘imperative’
The Reform leader told JI the Jewish community ‘has an obligation to counter’ the normalization of anti-Zionist views on the left
jewishinsider.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I connected w/ @jewishinsider.com's Haley Cohen & reiterated: I am not prepared to overlook mayoral hopefuls who express #antiZionism. A line needs to be drawn. It disenfranchises & delegitimizes #Judaism itself. It leads to an intensification of #antisemitism:
jewishinsider.com/2025/10/rabb...
jewishinsider.com/2025/10/rabb...
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social NY's Jewish community is increasingly concerned by your statements about Israel and the Jewish people. I urge you to reconsider your long-held rejection of Israel’s right to exist. Be a uniter and a peacemaker.
Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch Addresses Zohran Mamdani's Israel Rhetoric
YouTube video by Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
youtu.be
October 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social NY's Jewish community is increasingly concerned by your statements about Israel and the Jewish people. I urge you to reconsider your long-held rejection of Israel’s right to exist. Be a uniter and a peacemaker.
Dear young people: You never before had to prove that you cared about Judaism. But if you want a Jewish future, you must embrace the truth that it is you who will forge the next phase of the Jewish saga...
October 2, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Dear young people: You never before had to prove that you cared about Judaism. But if you want a Jewish future, you must embrace the truth that it is you who will forge the next phase of the Jewish saga...
To all the young people this #YomKippur: It is harder now to be an American Jew. I hope that the challenges and anxieties of our times strengthen your commitment to our people — and create a fierceness of Jewish identity in you.
October 2, 2025 at 8:16 PM
To all the young people this #YomKippur: It is harder now to be an American Jew. I hope that the challenges and anxieties of our times strengthen your commitment to our people — and create a fierceness of Jewish identity in you.
Jewish history has proven conclusively that it is far better for Jews to have power and agonize over its moral use than to be powerless and at the mercy of the dark lords. Jewish vulnerability is the impetus to widespread Jew-hatred, not Jewish power.
September 24, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Jewish history has proven conclusively that it is far better for Jews to have power and agonize over its moral use than to be powerless and at the mercy of the dark lords. Jewish vulnerability is the impetus to widespread Jew-hatred, not Jewish power.
At best, there is an innocent naiveté in anti-Zionist Jews that may come from a good place but is unsophisticated in the ways of the real world. If your existence is not at stake, you see the world differently than those on the front lines... What kind of Jew are you?
September 23, 2025 at 9:50 PM
At best, there is an innocent naiveté in anti-Zionist Jews that may come from a good place but is unsophisticated in the ways of the real world. If your existence is not at stake, you see the world differently than those on the front lines... What kind of Jew are you?
We should not be supporting any institution or political candidate who does not support us. Otherwise, we will lose the traditional bipartisan support of #Israel that has been so instrumental for its survival & wellbeing. We have already lost enormous ground in academia…
June 23, 2025 at 7:04 PM
We should not be supporting any institution or political candidate who does not support us. Otherwise, we will lose the traditional bipartisan support of #Israel that has been so instrumental for its survival & wellbeing. We have already lost enormous ground in academia…
I don’t remember a time when American Jews have been so fearful, particularly here in #NYC. From intellectual and job-related biases and so on. I asked mayoral hopeful
@bradlander.bsky.social what he would do as caretaker of our city to combat this👇
@bradlander.bsky.social what he would do as caretaker of our city to combat this👇
June 23, 2025 at 12:34 PM
I don’t remember a time when American Jews have been so fearful, particularly here in #NYC. From intellectual and job-related biases and so on. I asked mayoral hopeful
@bradlander.bsky.social what he would do as caretaker of our city to combat this👇
@bradlander.bsky.social what he would do as caretaker of our city to combat this👇
#NYC mayoral hopeful @scottstringernyc.bsky.social has been a strong and proud member of the #Jewish community. He gives me his take on some of the key issues affecting Jewish NYers today. "We have a job to do here to root out evil and hate,” he tells me 👇
June 22, 2025 at 1:21 PM
#NYC mayoral hopeful @scottstringernyc.bsky.social has been a strong and proud member of the #Jewish community. He gives me his take on some of the key issues affecting Jewish NYers today. "We have a job to do here to root out evil and hate,” he tells me 👇
#NYC mayoral hopeful @scottstringernyc.bsky.social has been a strong and proud member of the #Jewish community. He gives me his take on some of the key issues affecting Jewish NYers today. "We have a job to do here to root out evil and hate,” he tells me 👇
June 20, 2025 at 7:24 PM
#NYC mayoral hopeful @scottstringernyc.bsky.social has been a strong and proud member of the #Jewish community. He gives me his take on some of the key issues affecting Jewish NYers today. "We have a job to do here to root out evil and hate,” he tells me 👇
@bradlander.bsky.social didn’t seem particularly surprised by progressive group responses in the wake of October 7th. “...there was always gonna be that kind of leftist anti-#Israel thing…” he tells me. Watch his reaction here 👇
June 20, 2025 at 6:23 PM
@bradlander.bsky.social didn’t seem particularly surprised by progressive group responses in the wake of October 7th. “...there was always gonna be that kind of leftist anti-#Israel thing…” he tells me. Watch his reaction here 👇
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social knows — or should know — the difference. “Free, Free Palestine” means destruction of Israel. “Globalize the Intifada” is about murdering Israeli diplomats worldwide, and attacking Jews and Jewish institutions.
June 18, 2025 at 2:39 PM
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social knows — or should know — the difference. “Free, Free Palestine” means destruction of Israel. “Globalize the Intifada” is about murdering Israeli diplomats worldwide, and attacking Jews and Jewish institutions.
There will come a time when the free nations of the world will thank Israel for defending Western civilization against nuclear blackmail.
June 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM
There will come a time when the free nations of the world will thank Israel for defending Western civilization against nuclear blackmail.
The iron-clad lesson of Jewish history that we neglected on Oct. 6 is that when someone threatens to kill Jews, believe them. Judaism teaches: "If your enemy seeks your destruction, arise earlier to thwart him."
June 15, 2025 at 3:11 AM
The iron-clad lesson of Jewish history that we neglected on Oct. 6 is that when someone threatens to kill Jews, believe them. Judaism teaches: "If your enemy seeks your destruction, arise earlier to thwart him."