NYC rabbis ‘hopeful' after telling Mamdani his Israel rhetoric makes Jews feel unsafe - interview

Two rabbis who attended New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's closed-door roundtable on Monday said they left feeling 'hopeful' and that the mayor attended in 'good faith.' The meeting, convened by the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, featured 10 rabbis from various Jewish denominations. The rabbis conveyed concerns that Mamdani's harsh rhetoric on Israel and his singling out of Israel contribute to rising antisemitism and make Jewish New Yorkers feel unsafe. They also noted broad agreement on the seriousness of security concerns and a desire for the administration to better understand Jewish experiences.

Two rabbis who attended New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's hour-long, closed-door roundtable at City Hall on Monday said they left feeling 'hopeful' and that the mayor attended in 'good faith.' The meeting, convened by the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, featured 10 rabbis from various Jewish denominations. The Jerusalem Post reached out to several rabbis who participated, including Rabbi Jonathan Leener, leader of the Prospect Heights Shul, a liberal Modern Orthodox synagogue in Brooklyn, and Rabbi 'S,' who did not wish to be named. Rabbi S said he chose to participate given the opportunity to represent his community's views directly to the mayor, and that the outreach was made in good faith with an openness to listen. Rabbi Leener said he sees his role as an advocate for the safety and well-being of the Jewish people, especially his fellow New Yorkers. He said he has profound disagreements with Mamdani, particularly around Israel, and that some of the mayor's rhetoric has contributed to 'turning up the temperature at a moment when many Jewish New Yorkers already feel increasingly vulnerable.' The predominant focus of the roundtable was the rising antisemitism in NYC and the way in which the mayor's hostility toward Israel has contributed to it. Rabbi S recalled that the message sent to the mayor was that his harsh rhetoric around Israel and its government, and his continual singling out and excessive focus on Israel, was alienating to constituents and makes Jewish New Yorkers feel that the mayor is not for them and makes them feel unsafe. Leener said concerns were raised several times about Mamdani's perceived 'double standard' when it comes to Israel. Both rabbis told the Post that there was broad consensus that Jew-hatred is making the city unsafe, and there was a shared desire for the administration to better understand what Jewish New Yorkers are experiencing. Despite past criticisms of Mamdani for choosing to associate with select sects of Judaism, both rabbis said there was 'tremendous diversity around the table.' Leener said he left feeling 'cautiously hopeful,' and that he will judge the mayor and his administration by their actions.