Jewish New Yorkers Question Safety

Jewish New Yorkers Question Safety After Mamdani Victory

Jews Buying Guns, This Time!

In the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s historic mayoral victory, some members of New York City’s Jewish community are expressing deep concerns about their place in a city that voted overwhelmingly for a candidate they perceive as hostile to their interests.

A Divided Electorate

Mamdani’s November 4 victory marked a watershed moment for New York City. The 34-year-old democratic socialist became the first Muslim and first person of South Asian descent elected to lead America’s largest city. He defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo by approximately 9 percentage points in a three-way race that also included Republican Curtis Sliwa.

According to NBC News exit polling, Jewish voters favored Cuomo over Mamdani by a margin of 60% to 31%. This 29-point gap reveals a stark divide between the mayor-elect and a community that represents a significant portion of New York’s population.

Concerns Over Israel Policy

Much of the Jewish community’s apprehension centers on Mamdani’s stance toward Israel. During the campaign, the assemblyman condemned the October 7 terrorist attacks but also characterized Israel’s military response in Gaza as genocide.

During the final debate between candidates, Mamdani stated he supports Israel’s right to exist but declined to endorse it as a Jewish state. “I would not recognize any state’s right to exist with a system of hierarchy on the basis of race or religion,” he said.

Questions of Representation

For some Jewish New Yorkers, the election results raise fundamental questions about political representation in a city that is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. Opinion writers in The Jerusalem Post and other publications have described a sense of alienation, with some community members questioning whether their values and connection to Israel are welcome in the city’s evolving political landscape.

Campaign Controversies

The mayoral race was marked by intense controversies that went beyond policy disagreements. Mamdani faced what he and his supporters characterized as Islamophobic attacks throughout the campaign. In late October, he delivered an emotional address condemning what he called “racist, baseless” attacks on his Muslim faith.

These tensions reached a particularly controversial moment when former Governor Cuomo appeared on a radio program where the host suggested Mamdani would celebrate another 9/11 attack. Cuomo’s response, which included laughter, drew widespread condemnation from Mamdani and other observers who characterized it as trafficking in Islamophobic stereotypes.

A Broader Political Realignment

The election represents more than local tensions. It signals a broader realignment within the Democratic Party, with Cuomo himself describing it as a “civil war” between moderate Democrats and what he called the “extreme radical left” represented by democratic socialists.

Mamdani’s victory was achieved despite significant opposition from traditional power centers. Real estate interests and business leaders donated millions to anti-Mamdani super PACs, while President Donald Trump made a late endorsement of Cuomo and threatened to withhold federal funding if Mamdani won.

Record Turnout

The election drew more than 2 million voters, representing the highest turnout for a mayoral race since 1969. This surge was driven largely by young voters energized by Mamdani’s focus on affordability issues, including promises of rent freezes on stabilized apartments, free bus service, and the construction of 200,000 affordable housing units.

Looking Forward

As Mamdani prepares to take office on January 1, 2026, he faces the challenge of governing a diverse city where significant portions of the electorate opposed his candidacy. In his victory speech, he promised to build a coalition that includes both Jewish New Yorkers and Muslims, beckoning what he called a “new age” of bold leadership.

“No more will New York be a city where you can traffic in Islamophobia and win an election,” Mamdani said, while also pledging to unite the city’s communities.

For Jewish New Yorkers who voted against him, the coming months will test whether Mamdani can bridge the divide between his progressive base and a community that feels increasingly alienated by the direction of city politics. The success or failure of that effort may determine not only the trajectory of his administration but also the future character of America’s most diverse metropolis.

Ten Historical Instances Involving Jewish Self-Defense

1. October 7, 2023 Hamas Attack on Israel Approximately 1,200 people killed in southern Israel. Armed Israeli civilians and off-duty soldiers in some kibbutzim engaged attackers while waiting for military response.

2. The Holocaust (1933-1945) Nazi Germany systematically disarmed Jewish populations before genocide. Some armed resistance occurred (Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Sobibor revolt, partisan units), though extremely limited against state military power.

3. Kishinev Pogrom (1903, Russia) 49 Jews killed, hundreds injured. Led to formation of Jewish self-defense organizations across the Russian Empire.

4. Russian Civil War Pogroms (1918-1921) Estimated 50,000-200,000 Jews killed in Ukraine and surrounding areas. Jewish self-defense units fought alongside various factions.

5. Hebron Massacre (1929, Mandatory Palestine) 67 Jews killed by Arab rioters. Limited armed defense available; led to expansion of Haganah.

6. Kristallnacht (1938, Nazi Germany) Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues destroyed. Jews were already largely disarmed by the Nazi Weapons Law of 1938.

7. Farhud (1941, Iraq) Anti-Jewish riots in Baghdad killed 180+ Jews. Community had limited means of armed self-defense.

8. Medieval Rhineland Massacres (1096) During First Crusade, thousands of Jews killed in Rhineland. Some communities attempted armed resistance.

9. Odessa Pogroms (1905, Russia) 400-800 Jews killed. Jewish self-defense organizations (like the Bund) fought back with some success.

10. Munich Olympics Massacre (1972) 11 Israeli athletes killed by Palestinian terrorists. Led to increased armed security for Jewish communities and Israeli civilians abroad.

Important Context

Historical research shows that armed resistance faced enormous challenges:

• State-sponsored persecution involved overwhelming military force
• Legal restrictions often prevented weapons ownership beforehand
• Isolation and deception about intentions limited organized response
• Geographic constraints limited escape options

These events demonstrate why many Jewish communities and the state of Israel prioritize self-defense capabilities, though historians note that preventing genocide requires much more than individual armament—including international solidarity, early recognition of threats, and political will to intervene.