Concerns Raised Over Jewish Representation in NYC Advisory Committee

Jewish legal organizations are expressing frustration towards New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani for not including any Jewish individuals on a recent 18-member committee established to advise him on the nomination of the attorney general.

In a joint letter, leaders from the Queens Brandeis Association, the Jewish Lawyers Guild, the Brooklyn Brandeis Association, and the Bronx County Jewish Bar Association voiced their disappointment over the recent announcement of appointees. They emphasized, “Not a single Jewish lawyer, former judge, or legal expert has been appointed to a commission that your administration has claimed is meant to reflect the diversity of New York City.”

This decision has sparked concerns among Jewish community leaders, who believe it contributes to feelings of exclusion among many Jewish New Yorkers. They highlighted previous instances where Mamdani’s administration did not adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism and failed to include Jewish neighborhoods in a map detailing immigrant enclaves.

Moreover, the letter pointed out the increased vulnerability of the Jewish community, referencing a recent hate crime directed at a Jewish man near an Upper West Side synagogue.

The leaders urged the mayor to amend this oversight by appointing qualified Jewish members to the advisory committee, stressing that Jewish New Yorkers deserve equal representation, respect, and protection just like any other community.

On July 22, City Hall confirmed Mamdani’s involvement with the judicial advisory committee, which is chaired by Ali Nazim, a lawyer and close associate of the mayor known for his integral role in the rise of democratic socialists in the city.