A national Jewish civil rights organization has rolled out the Mamdani Monitor to keep an eye on mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani’s stance on anti-Semitism.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) plans to closely examine the backgrounds of Mamdani’s appointments and the funding for the organization to determine if there are any anti-Jewish sentiments present.
As anti-Semitic incidents have surged following the recent Hamas-Israel conflict, the ADL will also establish a “New York City Anti-Semitism Tip Line.”
ADL’s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, stated this unprecedented move was essential due to Mamdani’s purported anti-Semitic views and associations with individuals who incite hatred against Jews.
He expressed concerns over Mamdani’s support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. “The BDS campaign is anti-Semitic, whether it’s intentional or not. It leads to violence against Jews. It seeks to undermine the legitimacy of the Jewish state,” Greenblatt remarked.
Moreover, he pointed out that Mamdani fails to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish nation.
“We want Jews to know that we support them,” Greenblatt emphasized. He issued another statement asserting that Mamdani has used anti-Semitic rhetoric linked to people with a past of anti-Jewish sentiments and expressed a significant antipathy toward Israel—views that don’t represent the majority of Jewish New Yorkers.
Greenblatt mentioned their apprehension over how Mamdani’s chosen individuals and principles might shape his administration, especially given the recent increase in harassment, vandalism, and violence against Jewish communities and institutions.
He expressed hope that Mamdani would actively oppose anti-Semitism in the city, which houses the largest Jewish population outside of Israel and the headquarters of the ADL.
“We will hold the Mamdani administration accountable to this basic standard,” he declared.
Other Jewish organizations, like the New York Solidarity Network and the UJA Federation, have also reacted to Mamdani’s election, pledging to combat anti-Jewish actions within the government.
Currently, there has been no immediate response from Mamdani’s team. However, he previously committed during his campaign to allocate more resources toward fighting anti-Semitism and other forms of prejudice.
