Mamdani tested on antisemitism, community protection responses
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has begun to demonstrate that he understands the stakes of protecting New York City’s Jewish community from antisemitic intimidation, according to Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. In a detailed assessment of the mayor’s early actions, Schneier notes that while significant disagreements remain on Israel policy, Mamdani has taken concrete steps protecting houses of worship and responded decisively to pro-Hamas protests. Schneier acknowledges deep policy disagreements with Mamdani, particularly regarding the mayor’s previous use of loaded terminology like apartheid, occupation, and genocide to describe Israeli governance. The rabbi explicitly stated that anti-Zionism constitutes antisemitism, directly challenging the mayor’s historical framing of Israeli-Palestinian issues. These fundamental disagreements on Israel policy cannot be minimized or overlooked as Mamdani’s record on Jewish community safety is assessed.
Protective Measures for Houses of Worship
However, Mamdani has moved forward with executive orders establishing concrete protections for religious institutions. His second executive order directed the police commissioner and city law department to review NYPD patrol guidance and establish clearer protections for all houses of worship. The order mandated evaluation of buffer zones ranging from fifteen to sixty feet from building entrances, additional restrictions during publicly scheduled religious services, and appropriate limitations during other gatherings and events.
Preemptive Response to Pro-Hamas Protests
When activists scheduled a pro-Hamas protest in Queens, Mamdani did not wait for chaos to develop. Hours before the scheduled event, he deployed dozens of NYPD officers to surrounding areas to protect nearby synagogues, Jewish schools, and residents. In his statement, the mayor wrote that chants in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city. This proactive deployment signified understanding that hostile demonstrations targeting Jewish institutions require preventive rather than merely responsive governance.
Core Question of Identity and Community
The rabbi concludes by asserting that Israel must be understood as foundational to Jewish identity. A leader cannot separate Israel from the Jewish community’s core concerns while claiming to protect Jewish safety. True protection requires understanding that support for Jewish security includes recognition of Israel’s existence and rights.
