Mamdani’s Jewish Problem

Anti-Israel protesters at a Nefesh B'Nefesh event (Forward)

Two prominent New York Jewish officials have taken very different paths in response to the election of anti-Israel Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s next mayor. New York City is home to the largest Jewish population in the country - by a country mile! Most of whom support the Jewish state. Although that support has waned somewhat over the last couple of years due to the war in Gaza, I think it is still safe to say that among the Jewish mainstream - support for Israel - if not always for its leadership - remains strong.

New York city’s political leaders have historically been sensitive to that support and have generally backed Israel as well, often quite strongly. I was especially touched by the warm statement of support made by outgoing Mayor Eric Adams in the immediate aftermath of the October 7^th massacre in Israel.

This is decidedly not the case with Mayor-elect Mamdani. His views are the opposite of every previous New York mayor. His sympathy is reserved solely for Palestinians. He does not believe that the Jewish state even has a right to exist. Long before he became a candidate for mayor, he was at the forefront of protesting Israel at every opportunity. To this day he remains a staunch supporter of BDS.

None of this is news. His anti-Israel views are well known and have not changed since his election. However, despite his virulent opposition to Israel, he has promised to protect and honor the right of every Jewish New Yorker to disagree with him, and has vowed to fight antisemitism no less than any of his predecessors - if not more. He has promised to protect the rights of all New Yorkers to practice their religion freely and attend their houses of worship without fear of being attacked.

I believe him. His hatred of the Jewish state is political, based on the typical progressive narrative that champions the oppressed (the Palestinians) against the ‘heavy hand’ of their oppressors (Israel).

Viewed through this lens, Israel cannot possibly be seen as a victim of terror. Those who perpetrate terror are, in his view, ‘freedom fighters’ trying to liberate their people from the rule of military occupiers.

This is why Mamdani has never condemned Hamas as a terrorist organization or denounced what they did on October 7^th. How could he? In his worldview, terror is the only means left for Palestinians to achieve their ‘legitimate liberationist goals’.

However, to Mamdani, the Jews of New York are not Israelis; they are New Yorkers. As mayor, he will ‘defend’ their right to disagree with him and protect them from harm. No less than any other New Yorker. Sadly, there is a not-insignificant number of progressive Jews who agree with his politics and his views of Israel, including some far-left progressive ‘rabbis’. They helped him get elected. Some of them are even on his transition team.

If Mamdani is not truly an antisemite - as he claims - and is sincere about his promises to New York’s Jewish community, should Jewish New Yorkers be worried?

The answer is YES. Absolutely.

Words are cheap, even if he means them. And his own words have already contradicted his promises. That was demonstrated last week at a Nefesh B’Nefesh event promoting Aliyah (immigration to Israel), held at Manhattan’s Park East Synagogue. There is nothing controversial about such an event. Making Aliyah is the goal of many Jews across all denominations. Nefesh B’Nefesh helps facilitate that.

That event was vehemently protested just outside the shul by a group called the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation. They shouted phrases like “globalize the intifada” and “death to the IDF,” and hurled profanities and insults at pro-Israel counter-protesters.

Mamdani’s response was the following:

“Every New Yorker should be free to enter a house of worship without intimidation,” (but)
“sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law.”

This is where Mamdani’s promise collapses. No matter how sincere he may have been in the first comment (and I believe he was), his second comment completely undermined it. Making Aliyah is not a violation of international law. In essence, he supported the protesters. His only criticism was that they went too far.

When the mayor of New York holds such vehemently anti-Israel views, it fuels and emboldens organizations like this to not only protest Israel but to commit violence against those who support Israel. Namely, Jews. The net result is that Mamdani’s rhetoric will surely generate the very violence against us that he has promised to fight. That he does not understand this, or worse, doesn’t care, is what worries most of New York’s Jewish citizens.

This brings me back to my opening point. Jessica Tisch, who is Jewish, is New York’s Chief of Police. Mamdani offered to retain her in that position, and she accepted. This was the right decision. It indicates at least some willingness on his part to support the excellent job she has done in protecting New Yorkers from crime. And that he is willing to trust a Jew to whose views on Israel are no doubt the opposite of his own - be in charge of law enforcement. Despite her less-than-stellar response to the incident at the synagogue (for which she publicly apologized), she will surely continue to provide her city with top notch law enforcement and not let any New Yorker down. Including her fellow Jews.

Robert Tucker, New York City’s Fire Commissioner, announced his resignation the day after Mamdani won the mayoral election. In an interview broadcast on CBS News this morning, Tucker indicated that his reason for doing so was his strong support for Israel and his discomfort with Mamdani’s anti-Israel stance.

I think this was a courageous decision. He loved his job, and by all measures, under his leadership the FDNY has been at the top of its game.

Both officials made the correct decision. A police chief is directly involved with protecting a city’s residents from crime. When law enforcement is strong, crime goes down. And since Jews will likely be targeted for antisemitic attacks, it is comforting to know that the NYPD will continue to be headed by a Jewish woman with an exceptional record of enforcing the law.

A fire chief, on the other hand, is not involved in law enforcement. Firefighters save lives and respond quickly to emergencies. Saving lives is not political; when someone is in trouble, first responders don’t ask about their views on Israel. Robert Tucker is a strong and courageous public servant with an impeccable record of service. His resignation made a very powerful statement about his discomfort with the mayor-elect and his politics.

Sometimes one can see a bit of a silver lining even in clouds as dark as the one currently hanging over New York.

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