10 NYC Rabbis Urge Mamdani to Soften Israel Rhetoric Amid Rising Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 11
10 NYC Rabbis Urge Mamdani to Soften Israel Rhetoric Amid Rising Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 11
Summary
An hourlong City Hall meeting brought 10 rabbis to Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday to press him to change how he talks about Israel, saying his words are affecting Jewish New Yorkers' sense of safety.
Rabbis tied that appeal to a rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes, arguing his public criticism of Israel has reverberated in a city already on edge over antisemitism.
The group was split on how far he should go: some wanted him to stop criticizing Israel and focus on local issues, while others backed his right to criticize but asked for more nuance and clearer condemnation of Hamas.
Rabbi Rick Jacobs said Mamdani was "90 percent" of what could change, and participants said the meeting ended with broad agreement that the mayor's relationship with the Jewish community must improve.