Incoming mayor’s stance on Israel creates tension with religious leaders as he prepares for January inauguration
<h3>An Unresolved Tension at City Hall</h3> <p>As Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani prepares to take office in January, he faces a significant challenge in his relationship with New York City’s Jewish community, which comprises over one million peopleapproximately twelve percent of the city’s population. According to CNN’s reporting, Mamdani is scheduled to meet privately with the New York Board of Rabbis, but the fundamental disagreements over Israel policy remain unresolved despite his election victory. The tension stems from Mamdani’s long-standing criticism of Israel, including his refusal to recognize its right to exist as a Jewish state and his support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.</p> <p>Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, the current president of the New York Board of Rabbis, delivered a sermon the Friday after Mamdani’s victory stating that he believed the incoming mayor’s criticisms of Israel aligned with Hamas and endangered the city’s Jewish community. Speaking to CNN, Hirsch challenged Mamdani directly: “If I’m wrong, say so. It would be welcomed by the American Jewish community, by the New York Jewish community, and by many people who are not Jewish who care about these issues.” A month later, Hirsch noted, he was still waiting for that clarification. The American Jewish Committee (https://www.ajc.org/) provides research and resources on Jewish community relations and antisemitism issues.</p> <h3>What Jewish Leaders Are Asking For</h3> <p>According to CNN, several rabbis attending the scheduled meeting with Mamdani plan to propose a unified agenda asking him to reconsider his positions on Israel. Specifically, they want him to back away from his rejection of Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state or his support of the BDS movement. However, such a reversal would not only put Mamdani at odds with his progressive base but would represent a fundamental shift from what he described at a Democratic Socialists of America convention two years ago as core to his politics: “the struggle for Palestinian liberation was at the core of my politics and continues to be.”</p> <p>The challenge for Mamdani is compounded by the fact that while he won the election, he did so without significant Jewish support. Exit polls cited by CNN showed only about a third of Jewish voters in New York backed Mamdani in November. Yet the political influence of the Jewish community extends far beyond their voting numbers. Stu Loeser, a Democratic strategist who served as Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s press secretary and identifies as an observant Jew, told CNN that since 1654, “pretty much every elected mayor of New York had longstanding warm relations with the city’s Jewish communities,” adding, “So we are in some uncharted waters here.” Research from the Jewish Federations of North America (https://jewishfederations.org/) documents the community’s civic engagement and political influence.</p> <h3>The Political Calculation and Risks</h3> <p>At least three Jewish leaders have privately warned, according to CNN, that they will pressure other New York officials including Governor Kathy Hochul and incoming City Council Speaker Julie Menin not to work with Mamdani more broadly if he follows through on promised anti-Israel moves and doesn’t provide additional reassurances to Jews in the city. Several told CNN they have already received private reassurances from some leaders that they will keep objections in mind. This creates a potential governance challenge for Mamdani, as effective mayoral leadership requires building coalitions across various constituencies.</p> <p>Mark Treyger, a former city councilman from Brooklyn who now serves as executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, told CNN his expectation is for Mamdani “to expand his circle so he can have a much more rounded view.” Treyger warned that if Mamdani doesn’t broaden his perspective, “he runs the risk of not just further alienating Jewish New Yorkers he runs the risk of being unable to build the coalitions necessary to advance affordability in this city.” The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (https://www.conferenceofpresidents.org/) represents diverse Jewish community perspectives on policy issues.</p> <h3>The Park East Synagogue Incident</h3> <p>Tensions were reinforced by a November protest outside Park East Synagogue in Manhattan, where demonstrators chanted what CNN described as violent rhetoric including calls to “death to” the Israeli Defense Forces and to “globalize the intifada.” Mamdani’s initial statement criticized the synagogue for hosting an event held by a group promoting Jewish settlement in the West Bank. A later statement from Mamdani denounced violent rhetoric without criticism of the group or synagogue. This response disappointed many Jewish leaders who felt Mamdani failed to demonstrate sufficient sensitivity to Jewish safety concerns.</p> <p>Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who is both Jewish and a Zionist, was asked by Mamdani to remain in her position because of the wide respect she has gained leading the department. When she spoke at Park East Synagogue the Saturday after the protest, Tisch apologized to congregants for not providing adequate security. She had not informed Mamdani in advance she was attending, though she made clear when accepting his offer to stay that they would not agree on everything. Tisch told CNN this week, “I understand the fear in the Jewish community. My sincere belief is that the mayor-elect will live up to the commitment he’s made to be a mayor for all New Yorkers, including the Jewish community.” The Anti-Defamation League (https://www.adl.org/) tracks antisemitic incidents and advocates for Jewish community security.</p> <h3>Mamdani’s Actions Since Winning</h3> <p>Mamdani’s post-election actions have sent mixed signals to different constituencies. According to CNN, he ran the NYC Gaza 5K the Sunday morning when Hamas began returning Israeli hostages as part of a ceasefire deal. He made his only publicized visit to a mosque since winning to prayers led by a vocally anti-Israel imam. He described the situation in Gaza as a “genocide” during his Oval Office meeting with President Trump. However, his reappointment of Commissioner Tisch has already stirred concerns among some anti-Zionist allies.</p> <p>The Democratic Socialists of America’s New York chapter issued a list of anti-Israel demands immediately after the election, starting with divestment from Israel. Nerdeen Kiswani, a pro-Palestinian organizer of the group Within Our Lifetime which led dozens of organizations in calling on Mamdani to reverse his decision on Tisch, told CNN, “A lot of people are going to continue to feel betrayed over time from the lack of movement.” Mamdani declined to comment on those who argue Tisch should have been disqualified because she’s a Zionist. Organizations like J Street (https://jstreet.org/) represent progressive Jewish perspectives on Middle East policy.</p> <h3>Navigating Opposing Pressures</h3> <p>Mamdani faces pressure from both sides of this divide. Several Jewish leaders CNN spoke with who Mamdani’s transition aides pointed to as validators gave hedged assessments. Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, acknowledged “there are those who are dismissing real and legitimate Jewish concerns about rising antisemitism,” adding that “there are certain statements Mamdani has made that have played into it.” She noted that while supporting Palestinian human rights is legitimate, “the question is: At which point does it become so all-encompassing from the public conversation perspective or lead to comments that may intentionally or not harm the Jewish community?”</p> <p>Rabbi Joshua Davidson of Temple Emanu-El told CNN, “I don’t know whether we can navigate it, but we’ve got no choice but to try because he is going to be the mayor.” Davidson emphasized that “if he really is committed to keeping the Jewish community safe and I believe him when he says he is he needs to understand how his own language undermines our own sense of safety.” The New York Board of Rabbis (http://www.nycrabbis.org/) represents rabbis across denominational lines in addressing community concerns.</p> <h3>Eric Adams’ Last-Minute Actions</h3> <p>Departing Mayor Eric Adams, a staunch ally of Israel, has taken steps that box Mamdani in on Israel policy. According to CNN, Adams signed an executive order last week that bars New York City from boycotting Israel. Additionally, Mark Levine, the incoming city comptroller, will reverse current policy to allow the city to invest in Israeli government bonds. Mamdani, who attended unrelated protests since winning but skipped one about the bonds, is already being called on by supporters to push Levine to change his mind, though Levine has declined to comment.</p> <p>Mamdani’s campaign declined to answer CNN’s questions about whether he will stick to campaign promises including pushing for continued divestment of city pension funds from Israel, how he will implement BDS policy in the city, how he would follow through on his promise to arrest Prime Minister Netanyahu, whether he will end NYPD partnerships with Israel, or whether he will seek to end a partnership Cornell University has with the Israeli university Technion. In a statement to CNN, Mamdani said, “As mayor, I will serve each and every New Yorker, including those who disagree with me or did not vote for me.” The Institute for Middle East Understanding (https://imeu.org/) provides context on Palestinian perspectives and Middle East policy debates.</p> <h3>Some Critics Reconsidering Their Approach</h3> <p>Interestingly, some of Mamdani’s most prominent critics are reconsidering their strategies. Park Avenue Synagogue Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove delivered a widely shared sermon just before the election declaring that Mamdani “poses a danger to the security of New York Jewish community.” However, speaking at the American Zionist Movement conference this week, CNN reported that Cosgrove acknowledged Mamdani understood “the fissures of our community better than we ourselves did,” and asked, “what are we going to do about it?” This suggests at least some willingness among Jewish leaders to reflect on their own approaches rather than simply opposing Mamdani’s positions.</p> <p>Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Kehilath Jeshurun synagogue, the corresponding secretary of the Board of Rabbis, argued to CNN that “antisemites masquerade as anti-Zionists,” warning that “if we have a mayoral administration that seems to play up anti-Zionism, it will be difficult for the Jews of New York.” Yet Mamdani has also received support from some within the Jewish community. Beth Miller, political director of the anti-Zionist Jewish group Jewish Voice for Peace Action which endorsed Mamdani on his campaign launch day, told CNN his outspokenness on Israel “engendered trust and really encouraged them to show up in ways they wouldn’t for other politicians.” For diverse Jewish perspectives on Israel policy, organizations like the New Israel Fund (https://www.nif.org/) provide alternative viewpoints.</p> <h3>The Path Forward Remains Unclear</h3> <p>As Mamdani prepares for his January 1 inauguration, the path forward on his relationship with the Jewish community remains uncertain. He faces the challenge of maintaining his principles while governing a diverse city where the Jewish community wields significant political influence. Some observers note that support for Israel has plummeted not just among the far left but within the Democratic Party overall, suggesting Mamdani’s positions reflect broader political shifts. However, the intensity of feeling on both sides of this issue makes compromise difficult.</p> <p>Mamdani told CNN he has felt “increased openness” from former opponents “not simply since the meeting itself, but also since the election,” adding, “For everyone’s different set of opinions on the competing visions for this city, New Yorkers also understand themselves as being New Yorkers and are therefore committed to the success of that city.” Whether this spirit of New York identity can bridge the deep divide over Israel policy will be one of the defining questions of Mamdani’s mayoralty. The success or failure of this navigation will likely influence not only his effectiveness as mayor but also the broader national conversation about Israel, Palestine, and American Jewish community relations. The Center for Middle East Peace (https://www.centerpeace.org/) offers analysis of U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestine.</p>
