Rabbis Tell Mamdani His Israel Rhetoric Makes Jewish New Yorkers Feel Unsafe

Two rabbis who joined an hour-long City Hall roundtable on Monday said the 10-member group told New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani that his repeated singling out of Israel was making Jewish New Yorkers feel alienated and unsafe. Rabbi Jonathan Leener of Prospect Heights Shul said the mayor listened in good faith and asked clarifying questions during the discussion. The participants said rabbis from multiple denominations raised concerns about antisemitism and security for Jewish institutions. Leener left cautiously hopeful but said he would judge the administration by its actions and results.