Jewish Leaders Criticize Mayor Mamdani Over Israel Comments

Leaders from several prominent Jewish organizations plan to boycott Mayor Zoran Mamdani and will not attend a celebration honoring his “Jewish heritage” at Gracie Mansion, citing his critical remarks about Israel as unacceptable.

At least three key Jewish figures, including a representative of the organization behind the local Israel Day parade, will be absent from the event. They pointed to Mamdani’s harsh criticisms of the Jewish state and other comments that have drawn accusations of anti-Semitism.

The UJA Coalition in New York, which claims to be one of the largest philanthropic groups in the area, announced it “will not participate in the Jewish American Heritage Month celebration at Gracie Mansion hosted by a mayor who denies the state of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people, a core pillar of our heritage,” the organization stated.

Mark Trager, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council, also chose not to attend. This group is coordinating the upcoming Israel Day Parade scheduled for May 31.

“This reflects a concerning trend in New York City,” Trager mentioned, expressing his worries on Sunday.

He remarked that Mamdani exacerbated tensions with the Jewish community by criticizing the establishment of Israel just before Jewish New Yorkers began their Shabbat celebrations.

On “Nakba Day,” a date that Palestinians refer to as a “disaster,” Mamdani lauded the declaration of Israel’s independence on May 14, 1948, posting a nuanced video interview with Inea Boushnak, a “Nakba survivor” residing in the city.

“The mayor’s social media post neglected crucial historical elements, further intensifying tensions,” Trager noted.

He highlighted that Mamdani’s statement followed a series of aggressive anti-Israel protests that occurred last week outside notable Jewish institutions, including the historic Park Avenue Synagogue and Young Israel Senior Services in Brooklyn.

Trager also mentioned the recent arrest of a terrorist suspect linked to the Iranian military, who allegedly planned an attack on a synagogue in New York.

“Now, more than ever, we require leadership that can unify New Yorkers and lower tensions,” he added.

Joseph Potasnik, vice president of the New York State Board of Rabbis, echoed Trager’s sentiments, stating he would also skip the Gracie event.

“Jewish heritage ought to acknowledge the existence of the state of Israel,” Rabbi Potasnik said. “Jewish history didn’t merely stop in 1946…We join the Israel Day parade to show our solidarity with Israel.”

Last week, former Brooklyn councilman Dov Hikind appealed to Jewish leaders to boycott Mamdani’s events, citing growing friction with segments of the Jewish community.

In contrast, some Jewish leaders did attend the mayor’s events, including Rabbi David Niedermann, president of the United Jewish Organization of Williamsburg, who had met with Mamdani at City Hall in March.

“I’m going. It’s the right thing to do,” Niedermann affirmed on Sunday.

According to Mamdani’s office, he has strong connections to the Jewish community.

“Since assuming office, Mayor Mamdani has prioritized maintaining relationships within New York City’s Jewish community and is focused on ensuring their safety during holidays while engaging with various aspects of Jewish life,” stated spokesperson Sam Raskin.

City Hall confirmed that Monday’s Shavuot celebration at Gracie Mansion would bring together around 150 representatives from the diverse Jewish community across the city.

Mamdani’s budget proposal includes a notable increase of over 800% in funding for hate crime prevention efforts, fulfilling a campaign promise to confront anti-Semitism.

However, he recently announced he would not be attending the Israel Day parade.

Mamdani supports a boycott of Israel and has expressed views challenging its recognition as a Jewish state, engaging with individuals deemed anti-Semitic by critics.

In another concerning issue, First Lady Rama Dowaj reportedly curated a Spotify playlist that included songs with anti-Israel lyrics, such as one intriguingly titled “Hungry but Sexy for Palestine.”

Previous social media activity from Dowaj has also raised eyebrows. After the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, she liked a celebratory post and another claiming the assault on Israeli hostages was a “collective fabrication.”

Additionally, Dowaj, an artist, faced backlash for earlier incendiary social media comments, including a 2015 post where she stated that Tel Aviv “shouldn’t exist” and referred to its residents as “occupiers.”