NYC Rabbis Press Mamdani to Change Tone on Israel Amid Rising Concerns Over Antisemitism

A group of New York rabbis met privately with Mayor Zohran Mamdani at City Hall to urge him to moderate his rhetoric about Israel, speak with greater care about the conflict, consistently condemn Hamas, and intensify efforts to combat antisemitism and protect Jewish institutions in the city.

The hour-long meeting, organized by the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, included ten Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative rabbis who described the conversation as open and respectful. According to reporting, participants did not present a unified position on Israel. Some encouraged the mayor to temper his criticism of the Jewish state, while others preferred he refrain from commenting on Israel altogether and focus instead on mayoral responsibilities.

Several rabbis told Mamdani they do not object to criticism of Israel or Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu but urged greater nuance in expressing such views. They also pressed him to condemn Hamas more consistently and to make clear that American Jews should not be held accountable for decisions made by Israel's government.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, said he told Mamdani: "I'm happy to work in partnership with your administration, but Mr. Mayor, you are 90 percent of what could be different here. If instead of vilifying Israel, you spoke constructively, in measured tones, that would move the needle more than anything else, and I'm hopeful you'll use that power."

Despite representing different religious movements and political viewpoints, participants agreed that Mamdani's relationship with the city's Jewish community requires improvement. Rabbi Jonathan Leener, who leads Prospect Heights Shul in Brooklyn, said: "There was no tiptoeing around the elephant in the room. The mayor's comments have ramifications and he needs to be aware of how in the current climate, that just adds to the temperature and creates an environment that I think a lot of Jews feel vulnerable in."

Two rabbis noted that concerns about rising antisemitism and the safety of Jewish New Yorkers were widely expressed during the discussion. The meeting followed Mamdani's speech last month in which he described Netanyahu as a "war criminal." He later acknowledged that New York law would prevent him from fulfilling a campaign promise to arrest the Israeli prime minister.

Rabbi Rachel Timoner of Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn said Mamdani should distinguish criticism of Israel from attitudes toward American Jews, stating: "If he is going to criticize Israel or speak for Palestinian freedom, which I do regularly, then it really matters that there is complexity in his message. We can't vote there, we don't have any ability to change what's happening, yet people are profiling us and spewing hate at us because they're angry at the Israeli government."

Timoner also encouraged the mayor to address antisemitism with the force and clarity he has applied to discussions of Islamophobia following September 11.

Several attendees said Mamdani listened attentively and thanked participants for their candor. Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, called the meeting "open, positive and constructive" And stated the mayor remains committed to engaging with Jewish communities across the city.

Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, built his political career through pro-Palestinian activism. While attending Bowdoin College, he founded a Students for Justice in Palestine chapter and led an unsuccessful effort to persuade the school to join an academic boycott of Israel. Although he has moderated some positions since taking office, he has largely maintained his longstanding views regarding Israel.

Leener said he did not expect the meeting to change Mamdani's views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but prioritized urging the mayor to focus on protecting Jewish New Yorkers through increased police security around synagogues and other institutions, stating: "That should be his focus and not making comments unnecessarily about the conflict, or having a bit more nuance around it."