Julie Menin, a Jewish moderate and daughter of Holocaust survivors, has been unanimously confirmed as the new speaker of the New York City Council. Menin becomes the first Jewish person to hold this influential position, which serves as a legislative counterweight to Mayor Zohran Mamdani. In her acceptance speech, Menin reflected on her family's history, her commitment to combating religious intolerance, and the historic significance of both a Jewish speaker and a Muslim mayor leading the city together. She emphasized her vision of uniting diverse communities and serving all council members, while also addressing recent tensions with the mayor over issues of antisemitism.