Rabbis Plead With Mamdani To Tone Down His Anti-Israel Messaging
The rabbis warned that 205 anti-Jewish hate crimes this year show why Mamdani should use more measured language, officials said.
- On Monday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met 10 Reform, Conservative, and Modern Orthodox rabbis at City Hall, where participants warned that his public rhetoric on Israel intensifies hostility toward Jewish New Yorkers.
- The meeting followed a measurable rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes, which accounted for 57% of all confirmed hate crimes in NYC during the first seven months of 2026, up 8.5% from the prior year.
- Rabbi Jon Leener of the Modern Orthodox Prospect Heights Shul told attendees he felt "cautiously hopeful" about the dialogue, though he said he will ultimately judge the mayor by tangible security improvements for Jewish institutions.
- Two major rabbinic organizations were notably absent, stating they were not invited to the roundtable; the New York Board of Rabbis said the mayor's office did not contact them regarding the meeting.
- The mayor's office reaffirmed its commitment to engaging with Jewish communities, as the administration continues developing strategy to combat antisemitism in anticipation of the upcoming High Holy Days.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Rabbis hope ‘open, honest dialogue’ with Mamdani brings belated change in Israel rhetoric
A roundtable with New York City rabbis held at City Hall on Monday gave participants a chance to voice growing concerns about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Israel rhetoric they felt had before gone unheard — with several attendees telling Jewish Insider the strong collective message, and Mamdani’s reaction, gave them hope he would change tack. Multiple attendees of the meeting told JI that they had been in contact with Mamdani’s Office to…
Rabbis tell Mamdani: ‘This is not going well’
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with a group of rabbis Monday for a conversation that centered on concerns about the impact of his rhetoric on Jewish safety. The meeting, which lasted roughly an hour, was initiated by Mamdani’s Office to Combat Antisemitism amid heightened tensions between the mayor and some Jewish New Yorkers over his increasingly sharp criticism of Israel and its government. “We were there in our own unique voices to sa…
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