Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing significant pressure from over 700 rabbis who are demanding an apology for his recent critical statements regarding the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The religious leaders contend that the mayor's choice of words constitutes an act of "dehumanization" that places American Jews and their allies at increased risk.
During a rally held on June 18, leading up to New York City's Democratic primary elections, Mamdani publicly described AIPAC as "monsters." He further stated that the organization utilizes "millions in dark money to accomplish a single goal — to preserve their power, so that they can turn us against one another."
Rabbis Express Concerns Over Antisemitism
These remarks quickly elicited widespread criticism, culminating in a letter signed by hundreds of rabbis. The letter articulated serious apprehensions that Mamdani's rhetoric could contribute to a rise in antisemitic sentiment.
The letter clarified that its signatories represented congregations with diverse perspectives on Israel, American political affairs, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. It warned, "By casting pro-Israel civic participation as monstrous, conspiratorial and anti-democratic, Mr. Mamdani has put a target on the backs of American Jews and their allies."
The rabbis emphasized the gravity of the mayor's statements, noting that they were uttered by a leader in a city that hosts the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. They also highlighted the concerning trend of increasing antisemitism across America. The letter described the comments as "beneath the office he holds," with signatories including dozens of rabbis from New York City itself, alongside hundreds more from various parts of the country.
Mayor Mamdani Responds to Criticism
In response to questions from a reporter regarding the backlash to his comments, Mamdani stated, "We're talking about a status quo where children are being killed on a daily basis."
"And when I am speaking about AIPAC, I'm speaking about an organization that has been supportive of the status quo, that has fought any attempt to actually deliver safety to people not just in Palestine, but frankly, through much of the region. And it is a status quo for immorality. It is one that I will not accept," he added.
At the same event, when pressed about his use of the word "monsters," Mamdani clarified that he was drawing upon the philosopher Antonio Gramsci. He explained that he employed the term to characterize "all those who are preventing the birth of a new world." This, he elaborated, referred not exclusively to AIPAC, but broadly to "super PACs at large who are spending millions of dollars in deceptive and misleading ads that are blanketing the airwaves."
Mamdani also affirmed his commitment to the Jewish community, stating, "Jewish New Yorkers have worked to cultivate a city that is safe and open to all. You should be accorded the same security and the same peace of mind." He further indicated that the city would commit $26 million annually to enhance hate crime prevention initiatives, underscoring the importance of proactive deterrence in addition to reactive measures against antisemitism.
Widespread Condemnation from Public Figures
Mamdani's remarks concerning AIPAC also drew strong criticism from prominent Jewish leaders beyond those who signed the letter.
Representative Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, expressed his concerns on social media, writing, "Swap 'AIPAC' for 'Jews' and it’s the oldest antisemitic conspiracy theory in the books. That’s not criticizing a lobby. That’s laundering antisemitism from your podium as Mayor of a city with more than a million Jews. This bulls--- is dangerous."
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), characterized Mamdani's statements as acts of "prejudice," deeming them "deliberate, dangerous and disgraceful."
"This is the kind of bigoted conspiracy mongering that you expect from unhinged streamers or white supremacists. It’s not the language that we should expect from the mayor whose jurisdiction suffers from the highest levels of antisemitism of any city in America," Greenblatt asserted.
Call for Retraction and Affirmation of Democratic Participation
The rabbis concluded their letter by formally requesting that the mayor apologize, retract his controversial remarks, and unequivocally state that "Jews and pro-Israel Americans are full participants in our democracy."
The letter distinguished between policy debate and demonization, asserting, "We can debate policy. We can argue about money in politics. We can disagree passionately about Israel and the Middle East. But no elected leader should demonize Jews or those who stand with the Jewish state. Criticizing Israeli policy is not antisemitic. Treating millions of Zionist Jews as morally suspect, politically illegitimate or less deserving of equal participation in public life is."
