Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday listened intently, took notes and asked questions as ten local Rabbis told him — in constructive terms — what they think he could or should do differently to keep Jews in New York City safe.
Two Rabbis, who were in the room for the hour-long meeting organized by City Hall to discuss antisemitism, both said while Mamdani did not say it explicitly, he appeared mindful that he needs to do something different to improve his relationship with Jewish New Yorkers.
“He understands that something’s not working,” said Rabbi Felicia Sol of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun on the Upper West Side.
“No one minced words,” said Rabbi Rachel Timoner of Congregation Beth Elohim of Park Slope.
Sol and Timoner described a meeting in which Mamdani appeared moved as his Jewish guests, from a range of reform and modern orthodox denominations, described feeling targeted in a climate of rising antisemitic hate crimes.
Rabbi Timoner said she told the mayor that his narrative oversimplifies a complex situation in the Israel-Palestinian conflict which could prove dangerous for Jews in New York. She said she told Mamdani she agrees with his view that what’s happening to Palestinians is “unconscionable,” but asked if he could also lift up the Israelis and Palestinians who are working together toward a shared future.
“I understand that it’s effective but the Jews have a two-thousand-year history of being blamed for the world’s problems — so when we hear the idea that a complex situation is actually simple and ‘here’s the bad guy and it’s Jews’ that sets our antennae going crazy,” Timoner said.
“He’s really reduced that to a very uncomplicated and one sided voice, and I think he heard that,” said Rabbi Felicia Sol.
Sol said she believes the mayor wants Jews to be safe.
“I do not believe he’s antisemitic even though he’s made choices I profoundly disagree with,” she said.
Rabbi Sol said despite an effort to abide by the Hebrew expression dan lekaf zekhut — which means give the benefit of the doubt — she raised concerns to City Hall after Mamdani referred to AIPAC as “monsters” who “move millions in dark money” to preserve their power at a political rally in June.
Sol said, to her and other Jewish New Yorkers, that speech had “crossed a line” and she believes subsequent complaints to City Hall were part of the impetus for Monday’s meeting.
Mamdani has not yet commented publicly on the meeting, but Phylisa Wisdom, who heads the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism said, “The meeting, which we at the MOCA organized, focused on strategies to strengthen Jewish safety and belonging.”
Wisdom said it was “an open, positive and constructive conversation” and that “Mamdani has and will continue to engage with Jewish life in NYC in order to meet the needs of our communities.”