New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently held an hour-long, closed-door meeting at City Hall with ten rabbis representing Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Orthodox Jewish communities.
The roundtable was organized by the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism to discuss Jewish safety and open lines of communication.
Concerns over rhetoric
During the discussion, faith leaders urged Mayor Mamdani to reconsider his public statements regarding Israel. Participants shared that his harsh criticism of Israel has heightened feelings of insecurity among Jewish residents.
The meeting followed city data showing a recent rise in anti-Jewish hate incidents.
Direct words to the mayor
The conversation was described as candid yet respectful. Rabbi Rick Jacobs told the mayor directly:
“I’m happy to work in partnership with your administration but Mr. Mayor, you are 90 percent of what could be different here” noting later that “the way he vilifies Israel and so constantly is really causing harm.”
Listening to feedback
Participants noted that the mayor remained engaged throughout the sit-down. Rabbi Rachel Timoner shared that “the mayor listened deeply and responded with care” while Rabbi Jon Leener encouraged City Hall to prioritize local synagogue security rather than “making comments unnecessarily about the conflict.”
City Hall response
Administration officials characterized the meeting as an open dialogue. Phylisa Wisdom of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism stated that “Mayor Mamdani has and will continue to engage with Jewish life in New York City in order to meet the needs of our communities and reaffirm his commitment to the thriving of Jewish communities across the five boroughs.”
