NYC Council, healthcare groups hold their first meeting on Jew-hatred in medicine

The New York City Council, led by Speaker Julie Menin, recently convened a "first-of-its-kind" meeting with over a dozen healthcare and Jewish organizations to address antisemitism in medicine. Organized by the American Jewish Medical Association (AJMA), the discussion highlighted a "broad consensus" that "antisemitism in medicine must be addressed more aggressively," according to Omri Attar of AJMA. Key issues included the lack of a clear definition of antisemitism adopted by New York City, which complicates efforts to combat it, and concerns regarding the proposed merger of Maimonides Medical Center and the city's public hospital system. Participants noted a "tsunami of hate" against Jews in medicine, particularly after October 7, manifesting in online discrimination and potential biases in patient care. The meeting also revealed challenges in enforcing existing anti-discrimination policies and the need for a structured mechanism to report and track antisemitic incidents. The council plans a follow-up roundtable in approximately three months.