(July 21, 2026 \/ JNS)\n <\/p>\n
The lone rabbi, of 40 Staten Island religious leaders with whom New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met on Tuesday in a closed-press event, told JNS that he raised Jew-hatred with the mayor but received an inadequate response.<\/p>\n
Rabbi Gerald Sussman, spiritual leader of Temple Emanu-El of Staten Island, a Conservative congregation, told JNS that he said to the mayor, \u201cYou\u2019re upset about people buying property in Israel, but they\u2019re interested because they feel unsafe here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe mentioned trying to deal with antisemitism by people working on joint projects and getting to know each other, which I don\u2019t think would make much difference,\u201d the rabbi said. \u201cPeople\u2019s version of what Israel is doing is beyond having the kids do plays together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it was an adequate response,\u201d Sussman told JNS. \u201cOverall the meeting was \u2018rah-rah\u2019 and \u2018isn\u2019t it great that he is here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Mamdani \u201cdidn\u2019t say much in response,\u201d according to the rabbi. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe was smiling. He has a winning demeanor, but I don\u2019t expect to see any changes,\u201d Sussman told JNS.<\/p>\n
The mayor\u2019s office described the gathering as a \u201croundtable discussion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor Brown, senior pastor of Mount Sinai United Christian Church, told JNS after the meeting that he convened the gathering, because \u201cStaten Island was the only borough that did not vote for him, but we wanted to provide an opportunity so he could meet some of the most influential faith leaders here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mamdani \u201cis definitely making strides and is being very sensitive in his listening\u201d about Jew-hatred, Brown, who is a chaplain of the New York City Police Department. <\/p>\n
The mayor \u201cis looking to mobilize his administration to be helpful,\u201d Brown told JNS.<\/p>\n
Sussman said that members of the mayor\u2019s staff were present, including two members of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, a left-wing group that was influential in the June Democratic New York City primary election, which selected former city comptroller Brad Lander.<\/p>\n
Like Mamdani and Lander, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice has accused Israel of \u201cgenocide.\u201d<\/p>\n