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A growing chorus of religious leaders is voicing concern over Democratic mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, with more than 1,000 rabbis across the United States signing a letter warning that his rhetoric toward Israel risks normalizing antisemitism in public life. The statement — titled “A Rabbinic Call to Action: Defending the Jewish Future” — has quickly become one of the largest organized clerical responses to an American candidate’s stance on Israel in recent years.
The letter, which began circulating earlier this month, accuses Mamdani of “denying Israel’s legitimacy” and of previously defending the phrase “globalize the Intifada,” a slogan widely interpreted as endorsing violence against Jews and Israelis. Although the New York assemblyman and Democratic nominee for mayor has since said he would discourage use of the slogan and would not employ it himself, the rabbis argue that his past statements raise red flags about his suitability for office.
“We will not accept a culture that treats Jewish self-determination as a negotiable ideal or Jewish inclusion as something to be ‘granted,’” the letter declares. “The safety and dignity of Jews in every city depend on rejecting that false choice.”
Debate Sparks Renewed Focus
The issue gained prominence during the October 22 New York City mayoral debate, where Mamdani sought to reassure voters that he would “protect and celebrate Jewish New Yorkers.” But his opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, seized on the controversy, reminding viewers that “it was not several rabbis, Zohran — it was 650 rabbis,” referring to the number who had initially signed the statement.
By the morning of October 24, that number had swelled to more than 1,000 signatories from across denominational lines — Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist. Many of the rabbis said the campaign had “spread like wildfire” in congregations alarmed by what they view as the mainstreaming of anti-Zionist rhetoric.
A Letter Gaining Momentum
Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner of Temple Emanu-El in Closter, New Jersey, one of the first to sign, said the initiative represents “thousands of constituents across a broad spectrum of Jewish life.”
“I love the idea of a Muslim mayor of New York City and have no issue with Mamdani’s faith,” Kirshner said. “However, I take issue with the things he’s said about Jews and Israel. When he talks about ‘globalizing the intifada,’ that’s calling for violence against Jews — that should disqualify him from public office.”
Kirshner also accused Mamdani of using “dog whistle” language after he declined to directly say Hamas should lay down its arms during a Fox News interview earlier this month. “He refused to condemn Hamas,” Kirshner said. “That’s dangerous and we should be unequivocal in our condemnation.”
In that interview, Mamdani pivoted away from the question, saying he preferred to focus on New York’s affordability crisis and that he “hoped for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.” When pressed, he said both Hamas and the Israeli military should adhere to international law but avoided taking a firm stance on the militant group’s disarmament.
Criticism from Jewish Leaders
Another prominent voice in the letter, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, leader of Manhattan’s Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and a key figure in the Reform movement, warned that Mamdani’s rhetoric risks emboldening antisemitic sentiment.
“Language that delegitimizes Israel or frames Jewish nationhood as a colonial project doesn’t just distort history — it fuels hostility toward Jewish communities,” Hirsch said in a statement. “Candidates who seek public office must understand that their words have real consequences.”
Other rabbis echoed that warning, saying antisemitism has grown too pervasive to ignore in political spaces once seen as safe. Rabbi Benjamin David of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Pennsylvania, another signatory, said, “We need to stand for tolerance and inclusivity, not prejudice. If we can’t confront antisemitism in New York City — the epicenter of Jewish life in America — then that doesn’t bode well for the rest of us.”
Mamdani’s Response
Mamdani, who represents parts of Queens in the New York State Assembly, has been one of the most outspoken critics of Israeli policies among elected Democrats. He has described Israel as an “apartheid state” and has called for the U.S. to end military aid to Israel. During a June interview, he said he supports “Israel’s right to exist as a state with equal rights” but added, “I’m not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion or anything else.”
He has also previously suggested that if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were to visit New York, the NYPD should arrest him for alleged war crimes — a statement that drew sharp criticism even from progressives who support Palestinian rights.
Despite this, Mamdani insists his campaign is not anti-Jewish. Over recent months, he has made deliberate outreach efforts to Jewish communities, visiting synagogues and meeting with local rabbis. His campaign has pledged to increase funding for hate-crime prevention programs and expand city initiatives protecting religious minorities.
“I will be the mayor who doesn’t just protect Jewish New Yorkers but also celebrates and cherishes them,” Mamdani said during Wednesday’s debate. “I understand that some may disagree with my views on Israel, but as mayor, I will be a champion for the safety and dignity of every community.”
His campaign did not respond to requests for further comment regarding the rabbis’ letter.
A Divided Electorate
A recent Fox News poll found Jewish voters in the city nearly split — 42% supporting Cuomo, 38% backing Mamdani, and 13% leaning toward Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. The tight race reflects deeper divisions among New Yorkers over Israel, religion, and the boundaries of political speech.
Political analysts say the debate over Mamdani’s record could define the final stretch of the mayoral race. “New York City has long been a microcosm of broader national debates on Israel and antisemitism,” said political scientist Dr. Leah Rosenfeld of Hunter College. “What happens here could influence how Democrats approach the Israel question in 2026 and beyond.”
Broader Implications
The unprecedented mobilization of over a thousand rabbis marks a turning point in interfaith political engagement in the United States. While many Jewish leaders say their concerns are focused squarely on rhetoric, others worry that attacks on Mamdani risk fueling Islamophobia.
Religious scholar Dr. Youssef Haddad of Fordham University noted, “This controversy highlights how the conversation about antisemitism and anti-Zionism must be handled carefully. Condemning harmful language is crucial — but so is ensuring that Muslim Americans are not alienated in the process.”
For now, the open letter stands as both a moral statement and political warning — one that underscores how fraught discussions around Israel and identity remain in U.S. politics.
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