Mayor Eric Adams and various religious leaders in the city came together at City Hall on Friday to encourage more unity and tolerance.

There has been a spike in hate crimes in recent weeks, many of which have been antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents.

“In this moment of heightened tension around the globe, it is more important than ever that we stand together as one — united against the rising tide of hatred and religions intolerance. And we’re seeing it and we’re feeling it,” Adams said.

The diverse show of solidarity came shortly after the start of Hanukkah, a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem.

“It is up to us during these times to come together, to pray together, to be together, to work together, to help our people,” said the Rev. Fr. Thomas Zain of the St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn.

Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of the Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan said the event brought a timely message.

“Last week, Friday, there were 15 bomb threats that were issued in this city to synagogues,” Steinmetz said.

Recent NYPD crime statistics show that while the number of reported bias incidents are dropping, hate crimes are up 33% since November of last year.

There were 96 incidents in November 2023 compared to 72 in November 2022. Jews have been the targets of the most hate crimes, totaling 62 this year, which is up 32% since last year.

Recent events reflect the trend. Just hours before Hanukkah, a man fired a shotgun twice outside a Jewish temple in Albany and said “Free Palestine” as he was taken into custody.

Also on Thursday, a Jewish man was assaulted and robbed on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.

About three weeks ago, window tarps with a Jewish Star of David at the Shalom Japan restaurant in Brooklyn were set ablaze.

“The key to defeating antisemitism is actually found in communication,” Steinmetz said. “It’s found in people lighting lights, people saying we will not tolerate this.

Meanwhile, the Council on American-Islamic Relations has documented a 216% increase in anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias incidents in the month since the Israel-Hamas war broke out.

There have been 1,283 incidents compared to the average of 406 complaints the council receives in a given month.

“Often times, when we come together in any good time, it’s good,” said Imam Shamsi Ali, the director of the Jamaica Muslim Center. “But coming together in a deeply challenging moment is even greater.”

Similarly, the city has also seen Muslim New Yorkers targeted in acts of hate in recent weeks.

A Muslim woman was struck by a man on a city subway before a video of the attack went viral. A Muslim teenager was also attacked on a subway. And three victims were assaulted in Bay Ridge in a possible anti-Palestinian attack.