My name is Elan Kornblum. As a baseball fan and a Jew living in New York, it's disheartening to see the omission of a Jewish Heritage Night in the New York Mets themed nights schedule. With over 1 million Jewish residents in New York, our community makes a significant contribution to the rich cultural tapestry of the city, and we should be celebrated alongside other celebrated heritages.

The New York Mets have shown admirable commitment to honoring the diverse cultures that comprise our vibrant city. This year, City Field will host themed nights celebrating Italian, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Japanese, Korean, Irish, and Mexican heritages. While these celebrations are commendable, the absence of an equally significant Jewish Heritage Night is a glaring oversight.

New York is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, and our community has played a pivotal role in shaping the city's history, culture, and economy. A Jewish Heritage Night would not only honor this legacy but also educate fans about Jewish traditions, culture, and contributions.

A successful Jewish Heritage Night could include activities such as kosher food options, educational exhibits, music, and performances showcasing Jewish culture. Additionally, it could also function as a way to forge deeper ties within the community and demonstrate the Mets' commitment to inclusivity.

We respectfully ask Mr. Steve Cohen, owner of the New York Mets, and Mr. David Stearns, President of Baseball Operations, to take this request seriously. Adding a Jewish Heritage Night aligns with the Mets' tradition of celebrating New York's diversity and would affirm the team's dedication to embracing all cultural heritages.

Please join me in urging the New York Mets to recognize our community by signing this petition. Make Jewish Heritage Night a reality and let’s show that the Mets truly represent the mosaic of cultures that make up New York City.

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A follow-up to the ongoing story with the New York Mets…

Within the past half hour, I spoke to someone from the Mets organization about the current situation.

To be honest, part of why I wrote my original post was to get their attention and create an opportunity for a conversation.

That said, the main issue they raised wasn’t the petition itself, they understood it was written with respect and appreciate the tone, but rather the volume of hate-filled messages they’ve received over social media for the past 24–48 hours. I've seen it myself and it's horrific—something that reflects poorly on our Jewish community.

We can disagree. We can debate. But the moment it turns into threats, name-calling, and accusations of the worst kind, we lose the fight before it even begins.

In context, it is important to acknowledge what the Mets have done for the Jewish community:
*Hosting a Holocaust survivor to throw out the first pitch on Yom Hashoa
*Hosting Team Israel during Spring Training
*Offering multiple kosher food options throughout the stadium
*Providing a place to daven Mincha and Maariv
*Posting on social media well wishes on every Jewish holiday
The list goes on

For those who believe this decision was made with malicious intent, I think that perspective overlooks the broader picture and risks fueling unnecessary division.

Of course, many of us still want a Jewish Heritage Night or even Israel Night to take religion out of the equation —and rightfully so. We are proud of our heritage, our land, our culture.

My request for the Mets to take this seriously, as stated in the petition, still stands and I already see they have and that is appreciated. I am hopeful that this conversation will continue.

And I'm hoping if they do decide to create a special night for us, this year, next year, anytime in the future, that we ALL show up and not just talk.
I was told that their “Queens Culture Day” highlights the diversity of New York. It was scheduled on Saturday this year and that will be corrected next year.

At the same time, we don’t have to wait. As a community, we can come together, attend a game as a group, and create our own experience—call it “Kosher Foodies Night at the Ballpark.”

I fully understand that these decisions are complex and often driven by business considerations. But we cannot lose ourselves in the process.
We are better than that.

Let’s show the world what it means to be a light unto the nations. We can disagree—but we should never destroy.