NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch accepted the Theodor Herzl Award from Ronald Lauder, a prominent pro-Israel philanthropist, at a private World Jewish Congress gala at the Museum of Modern Art, per Politico. Lauder is a billionaire who has been a vocal critic of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration.
Tisch used the event to speak about her views on Israel, a topic she has rarely addressed since joining the Mamdani administration. She told attendees, “As a proud Jew and someone who believes deeply in Am Israel Chai, receiving the Theodor Herzl Award is a profound honor and one that carries special weight for me.” An NYPD spokesperson later said the values behind the award are central to her life, adding that she cares about the safety of Jewish people and wants to combat hate and intolerance.
The Hebrew phrase she used is commonly used to express solidarity with Israel. Mamdani is a critic of Israel and has accused it of committing genocide, a claim supported by a United Nations special committee, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, multiple human rights groups, various state governments, and many genocide studies and international law scholars. The mayor has also said he does not believe Israel should exist as a Jewish state.
She and the mayor see Israel very differently
Some of the mayor’s allies have pushed for him to fire Tisch, arguing that she stands in the way of the police reforms he promised during his campaign. Mamdani has moved ahead with changes to the department, including ordering the first NYPD use-of-force review in a decade.
Lauder has been a major political opponent of the mayor. He donated millions to help defeat Mamdani in the 2025 mayoral race and has often accused the mayor of antisemitic incitement. During that campaign, Mamdani said, “We are an existential threat to billionaires who think their money can buy our democracy.”
The mayor has faced similar accusations from other New York politicians. While running against Governor Kathy Hochul, Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman vowed to stop Mamdani and accused him of making an antisemitic remark.
At the event, Tisch thanked Lauder for the recognition and his introduction. Both are heirs to major fortunes, with Tisch connected to the Loews Corporation and Lauder to the Estée Lauder Companies. The mayor’s office declined to comment on the commissioner’s attendance at the dinner.
The gala also honored Mathias Döpfner, the CEO of Axel Springer, who spoke about the political climate in New York City. He argued that some Democratic Socialists hold antisemitic views and said it is wrong to ignore that behavior when it is presented in the name of human rights or equality. His spokesperson later said the comments were aimed at antisemitic people in general rather than at any specific person.
Published: Nov 11, 2026 11:15 am