“We’re now at a moment that, I believe, that we have to transcend our desire and our faith to move from worshipers to become practitioners,” Mayor Adams, who is on his first overseas trip since becoming Mayor, told an audience in Jerusalem.

New York Mayor Eric Adams met a group of Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious leaders at an interfaith and intercultural event in Jerusalem organized Tuesday by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) in partnership with the UJA-Federation of New York. The religious leaders represent a diverse range of communities that comprise Israel’s vibrant social fabric.

Adams started Monday a three-day visit to Israel during which he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai. Another official Adams already met not long after arriving was Jerusalem’s Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, who posted on X (formerly Twitter) that she was “looking forward to future collaborations with your great city.”

“We’re now at a moment that, I believe, that we have to transcend our desire and our faith to move from worshipers to become practitioners,” Mayor Adams told his audience in Jerusalem. “What we learn in our synagogues, our churches, our mosques, and our temples cannot really remain in the sterilized environment of our places of faith. We cannot be a globe with so much faith, but we see so much devastation. We must live who we say we are. It has to be more than just reading, we now have to start believing.”

CAM Advisory Board Chair Natan Sharansky was among the distinguished speakers welcoming Adams, noting, “On my last visit to New York, I could meet with leaders of so many different communities, faiths, and organizations, and you can see here tonight the representatives of so many different groups, and, in spite of whatever is said, Israel, and Jerusalem, is a very good place for all these people to meet, work, and live together, and to fight for our mutual desire to live in freedom and peace.”

CAM CEO Sacha Roytman Dratwa stated that ‘’Mayor Adams has shown a dedicated commitment to fighting antisemitism and religious bigotry of all forms.’’

On Wednesday, Mayor Adams’s trip to Israel will conclude in Tel Aviv with his participation in the “White City Soiree” to celebrate New York-Tel Aviv economic ties. The gathering, with guests including top Israeli business, finance, and technology figures, is being co-sponsored by CAM, F2 Venture Capital, and Ximus Forum.