More than one million Jews live in New York City. No community has done more to shape the city’s culture, commerce, intellectual life, and political identity than Jewish Americans.
Jewish immigrants and their descendants helped build modern New York. They transformed Broadway and American music through legends like George Gershwin and Irving Berlin. They built the garment industry that made New York a global fashion capital. They helped create modern comic book culture through figures like Stan Lee. Jewish delicatessens, bagels, and lox became woven into the cultural DNA of the city itself. Even the iconic “I ❤️ NY” logo was created by Milton Glaser, the son of Hungarian Jewish immigrants raised in the Bronx.
Jewish New Yorkers also helped define the city’s conscience. Lillian Wald revolutionized public health and social work. Jewish labor organizers fought for worker protections that became national standards. City College opened doors for generations of immigrant families shut out elsewhere. Jewish intellectuals, lawyers, activists, and judges like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, helped shape the liberal civic culture New York proudly celebrates to this day.
Yet despite all Jewish Americans have contributed to New York City, Jews are now increasingly treated as acceptable targets for intimidation, harassment, and violence in the very city they helped build.
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