New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani held a closed-door meeting with a group of prominent rabbis at City Hall as his administration faces continuing questions over relations with the city’s Jewish community, antisemitic hate crimes and his outspoken criticism of Israel.
The roughly hour-long meeting brought together 10 rabbis from Reform, Conservative and Modern Orthodox communities. Participants described the conversation as candid and respectful, with several raising concerns that Mamdani’s rhetoric regarding Israel could leave some Jewish New Yorkers feeling increasingly isolated or unsafe.
The discussion also focused on antisemitism and security in New York City. Rabbis pointed to recent anti-Jewish incidents, including the stabbing of a Jewish man, and urged City Hall to devote continued attention to protecting synagogues and Jewish institutions.
Mamdani has repeatedly condemned antisemitism and has also condemned the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. At the same time, he remains a fierce critic of the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Those positions have become a persistent source of disagreement between the mayor and some Jewish organizations.
The rabbis who attended did not present a completely unified position. Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, for example, stressed during the discussion that criticism of Israel should not automatically be characterized as antisemitism, illustrating the range of political views within New York’s Jewish community itself.
Some participants said they nevertheless left the meeting feeling hopeful, describing Mamdani as willing to listen and engage with their concerns even where significant disagreements remained.
The private meeting highlights one of the most sensitive challenges confronting Mamdani’s administration: maintaining his long-standing positions on Palestinian rights and Israeli government policy while convincing Jewish New Yorkers that City Hall remains firmly committed to combating antisemitism and protecting their safety.
