Prominent rabbis from across New York’s major Jewish denominations have expressed rare unity in warning that mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani poses a danger to the city’s Jewish community, citing his record on Israel and remarks they say have deepened communal fears at a time of rising antisemitism.
Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson, senior rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, the city’s historic Reform congregation founded in 1845, said in a widely circulated essay that Mamdani’s candidacy “concerns me greatly.” Davidson wrote that Mamdani has failed to recognize the link between anti-Israel rhetoric and antisemitic violence.
“It would be an extraordinary achievement for New York City to elect a Muslim mayor,” Davidson wrote. “But if he fails to appreciate the power of his bully pulpit as a candidate to ease or heighten the Jewish community’s fears, how can we expect him to embrace that power if elected?”
Davidson cited Mamdani’s repeated refusal, during a televised interview, to say that Hamas should surrender its weapons, a statement the candidate only made later during a debate. The rabbi said such hesitation raised questions about how Mamdani would address security concerns in a city where synagogues and Jewish schools already operate under heightened protection.
Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue, one of New York’s most influential Conservative congregations, delivered a sermon on Saturday warning that “Mamdani poses a danger to the security of the New York Jewish community.” Speaking later to the Jerusalem Post, Cosgrove said the threat he referred to came from “radical rhetoric that has ultimately fostered antisemitic violence.”
Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, the Orthodox leader of Kehilath Jeshurun on the Upper East Side, voiced similar alarm. “The Mamdani policy initiatives will destroy New York City,” Steinmetz said.
The warnings represent an unusual show of unity among Reform, Conservative and Orthodox leaders, who rarely speak with one voice on political matters. All three said they were compelled to speak out because they believe Mamdani’s anti-Zionist views and record on Jewish concerns make him unfit to lead the city.
Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist assemblymember representing Queens, has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s government and has said he opposes any state privileging one religion over another. His campaign did not immediately respond to the rabbis’ comments.
The rebuke from three of New York’s most prominent synagogues underscores the growing anxiety among Jewish voters as the mayoral race intensifies. Jewish leaders say the issue is not partisan politics but the safety of their community, which they argue could be jeopardized by rhetoric that normalizes hostility toward Israel and Jews.
One Response
These rabbis are doing too little too late. Where was all this concern a year ago when campaigning started? A year ago, the Jewish community could have done something about this and fought this, but the elections are in a couple weeks and now they are concerned? There’s no fighting it, it’s already in place and he is going to win. The only thing left for Jews to do is roll over or pack up and make Aliyah to Israel. This is no time for games.