Who Is Moshe Davis?

Moshe Davis

By Justine Hemmestad

As the Iowa National Guard leaves this week out of Fort Dodge, they will eventually be stationed in the Middle East in support of anti-ISIS operations.

They must, per their commander, be prepared for the mission to change - indeed, they must be prepared for “anything.”

A few days ago, the Nameless one said: “the regular Middle Eastern **  is still ongoing, Hamas isn't surrendering, the hostages aren't coming yet and even if some will, I can't see how the rest will. I think the outcome will be a military regime, against the will of many Israelis and the entire world. Hamas simply doesn't leave us any choice.” 

Two key things play a role in this - the antisemitism of October 7th and the world sympathy that Hamas garners by lying about Jews and themselves. The media has freely enabled these falsehoods, as though they participate in the hatred of Israel.

Meanwhile in America, New York’s Mayor Eric Adams has established the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, which is designated to fight antisemitism in all forms. The office is reminiscent of the body that Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced a year ago.

Then, while at a press conference at the Iowa Holocaust Memorial, Bird announced that the task force is made up of 14 local leaders in state government, law enforcement, and Iowa’s Jewish community.

“When we say, ‘never again,’” Bird asserted, “we must mean ‘never again.’” Iowa seems to have blazed a trail.

The New York mayor’s office cited the high rate of antisemitism as a reason for establishing his city’s new office, for the Anti-Defamation League’s Audit of Antisemitic Incidents tracked a record 1,437 incidents in New York state in 2024, with 68 percent of those taking place in New York City. 54% of all hate crimes in New York City targeted Jews, and during the first quarter of this year, that figure climbed to 62%, according to NYPD data. Jews represent around 10% of the city population.

To lead the New York office, Mayor Adams appointed Moshe Davis as executive director. Davis first joined the administration in 2022, managing Mayor Adams’ first-of-its-kind Jewish Advisory Council.

“The Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism will be the first of its kind in a major city across the nation,” said Mayor Adams, “and will tackle antisemitism in all of its forms, working across city agencies to ensure Jewish New Yorkers are protected and can thrive here in the five boroughs. Antisemitism is an attack not only on Jewish New Yorkers, but on the very idea of New York City as a place where people from all backgrounds can live together.”

The same should be true for America as a whole.

As the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism’s first action, Executive Director Davis will form a commission of Jewish leaders from across New York City to oversee and advise on the office’s work.

 Davis, a tireless advocate on behalf of Jewish New Yorkers, is the right person to lead and build such a large-scale office, says Mayor Adams. “I’m grateful to Moshe for stepping up to lead on this important issue.”

Before joining the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, Davis was a rabbinic leader at the Manhattan Jewish Experience. He received his ordination from The Rabbinical Council of Jerusalem.

Davis asserts, “Combating antisemitism requires a sledgehammer approach: coordinated, unapologetic, and immediate.” 

“As antisemitism rises to alarming levels across our nation, the establishment of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism is both timely and essential,” Jack Kliger, president and CEO of The Museum of Jewish Heritage said. “I commend Mayor Adams for vision in creating this office, and am confident that under Moshe Davis’s stewardship, this initiative will bring our city together to protect Jewish New Yorkers and uphold the values of tolerance and respect. The Museum of Jewish Heritage stands ready to support this vital work, and I look forward to working together to ensure that New York City remains a beacon of diversity, resilience, and hope-not just for Jewish New Yorkers, but for people everywhere.”

Moreover, Davis’ vision is to see other city mayors collaborating with Israel, to drive innovation, create jobs, and strengthen the bond between America and Israel.

In the meantime, the Nameless One records the kids' heart-felt singing as they take cover in their bomb shelter - with tradition as their shield.