CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn (WABC) — Mayor Zohran Mamdani received a mixed reception in Crown Heights, Brooklyn as the city’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish community celebrated Sukkot, with some residents welcoming his participation and others criticizing his appearance at holiday events.<\/p>\n
Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, joined residents during the weeklong Jewish holiday. But videos posted on social media showed Mamdani being heckled, booed and called an “antisemite” during a Sukkot event Tuesday night. The reaction contrasted with photos shared by the mayor’s office showing him participating in holiday celebrations.<\/p>\n
Speaking at an unrelated news conference, Mamdani dismissed concerns about criticism from some members of the Jewish community.<\/p>\n
Asked by Eyewitness News reporter N.J. Burkett whether it bothered him that some people believe he is an antisemite, Mamdani replied: “Does it bother me? I think my job as the mayor is not to get bothered by other people’s opinions. My job is to deliver for them no matter what their opinion is.”<\/p>\n
The reaction comes after City Hall released an antisemitism action plan that was praised for providing millions of dollars for education, outreach and synagogue security, but criticized for not including a definition of antisemitism.<\/p>\n
Mamdani also has repeatedly criticized the Israeli government. Last week at the United Nations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the mayor of spreading antisemitic rhetoric.<\/p>\n
“The lies you and other antisemites spread about the Jews and the Jewish state have real consequences,” Netanyahu said.<\/p>\n
Mamdani rejected the accusation.<\/p>\n
“When it comes to criticism of the Israeli prime minister or the Israeli government, that has no bearing on our responsibility to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe,” he said.<\/p>\n
Residents in Crown Heights expressed differing views about the mayor’s participation in Sukkot events.<\/p>\n
One resident said, “I’m against him coming here because statements against the state of Israel.”<\/p>\n
Another resident said, “It’s nice of him, he’s the mayor.”<\/p>\n
A third resident said, “That’s the job of every politician.”<\/p>\n
When Eyewitness News reporter N.J. Burkett noted that Mamdani is not Jewish but was celebrating Sukkot with Jewish New Yorkers, another resident responded: “It’s amazing to see.”<\/p>\n
The mayor said criticism comes with the job and that he accepts it. His official schedule on Wednesday included a private Sukkot celebration in the late afternoon.<\/p>\n
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