NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch Affixes Mezuzah at One Police Plaza on Holocaust Remembrance Day

On January 27, 2026 — International Holocaust Remembrance Day — New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch affixed a mezuzah to the front doorframe of her office at One Police Plaza. The brief ceremony took place in the presence of uniformed and civilian Jewish members of the police force.

The full story was reported by Jacob Kornbluh in The Forward.

How New York's Jewish Police Commissioner Marked Holocaust Remembrance Day With a Mezuzah at NYPD Headquarters

The mezuzah was purchased in Israel and given to Tisch by her mother, Merryl. She recited the blessing herself before affixing it to the doorpost — a personal act made public on one of the most significant dates in the Jewish calendar.

In a statement, Tisch described it as "a small but meaningful symbol of faith and resilience," adding that it affirms that "Jewish faith and tradition endure with strength and pride" after the Holocaust. She said the mezuzah serves as "a reminder that in this city, every community belongs, and every identity deserves to be lived openly and without fear."

Tisch, 44, comes from a prominent New York Jewish family whose roots trace back to Ukraine. Her great-grandfather Avraham was celebrated as a captain of the City College of New York basketball team, and her grandfather Rabbi Philip Hiat served as a police chaplain in the New York City Housing Authority Police Department. Tisch has spoken openly about her Judaism throughout her public life. When she was sworn in as NYPD commissioner in 2024, she wore a Star of David necklace. Five of her deputies are also Jewish.

What a Mezuzah Declares at a Public Doorpost

A mezuzah contains the words of the Shema and V'ahavta — the foundational passages of Jewish faith — written on parchment and placed on the right doorpost of a Jewish home or office. It marks the space as one where Jewish identity is present and acknowledged, and serves as a daily reminder of Hashem's presence to all who pass through.

Tisch chose International Holocaust Remembrance Day deliberately. Affixing a mezuzah on that date — at the headquarters of one of the most powerful law enforcement agencies in the world — is a statement that Jewish life is lived openly, not concealed.

The Scroll Is What Makes It a Mitzvah

The mezuzah Tisch affixed was purchased in Israel and given as a gift — a meaningful provenance. But whether a mezuzah comes from Israel, a local Judaica shop, or a family heirloom, the mitzvah rests entirely on what is inside: a scroll written by a certified sofer on proper klaf, checked for errors, and valid according to halacha.

Kosher Mezuzah offers scrolls written by certified soferim, double-checked by expert magihim, and backed by OU endorsement — with every scroll traceable through a unique QR code so you know exactly what you're putting on your doorpost.

A Mezuzah at One Police Plaza

Jessica Tisch did not affix a mezuzah quietly. She did it on Holocaust Remembrance Day, with colleagues present, and said so publicly. That is what the mitzvah has always asked of us — a declaration, made at the threshold, for anyone who walks through.

Commissioner Tisch's mezuzah was a gift from her mother, purchased in Israel. Yours can be just as intentional. Kosher Mezuzah offers OU-certified scrolls written in Israel to high standards and checked by certified experts. Find your kosher mezuzah scroll here and put it where it belongs.