Prominent figures within the Jewish community have decided to boycott Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “Jewish Heritage” celebration at Gracie Mansion, expressing disapproval over his criticism of Israel. They argue that the mayor’s comments are unacceptable and have been interpreted by some as antisemitic.
Among those choosing to abstain from the event are three notable Jewish leaders, including the head of the organization responsible for the local Israel Day Parade. Their absence serves as a statement against the democratic socialist mayor’s outspoken views on the Jewish State.
The UJA Federation of New York, regarded as the largest local philanthropic group worldwide, issued a statement underscoring their decision: “We will not be attending the Jewish American Heritage Month celebration at Gracie Mansion, hosted by a mayor who denies a core pillar of our heritage — the State of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people.”
Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council and organizer of the Israel Day Parade scheduled for May 31, is also opting out of the gathering. Reflecting on the current climate, Treyger commented on Sunday, “It’s a really telling and concerning sign of where things stand in New York City right now.”
Tensions were further heightened when Mamdani made remarks on Friday criticizing the creation of Israel, a move that coincided with the start of Shabbat for Jewish New Yorkers, thereby exacerbating the community’s concerns.
Treyger said Mamdani further inflamed tensions with Jews on Friday when he slammed the creation of Israel in a message sent out just before Jewish New Yorkers observed Shabbat.
Mamdani, a staunch critic of Israel, honored “Nakba Day” – marking what Palestinians call the “catastrophe” of the Jewish State’s declaration of independence on May 14, 1948 – in a Friday night post, that included a polished video interview with “Nakba survivor” and city resident Inea Bushnaq.
“The mayor issued a social media production which omitted significant parts of history. It only inflamed tensions further,” Treyger said.
He said the Mamdani statement came on the heels of vile anti-Israel protests outside the historic Park Avenue synagogue in Manhattan and Young Israel Senior Services in Midwood, Brooklyn last week.
Treyger also cited the arrest Friday of a suspected terrorist with ties to Iran’s military who planned to blow up a Big Apple synagogue.
“We’re looking for leadership that New Yorkers deserve to lower the temperature and bring people together — now more than ever,” Treyger said.
Joseph Potasanik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, also said he won’t be attending the event at Gracie.
“Jewish heritage should include recognition of the State of Israel,” Rabbi Potasnik said. “Jewish history didn’t end in 1946… We will be marching in the Israel Day Parade to express our support for Israel.”
Last week, former Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov. Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, urged Jewish leaders to boycott the Mamdani event as his relationship with segments of the Jewish community grows increasingly strained.
But other Jewish leaders are attending the mayor’s event, among them Rabbi David Niederman, head of the United Jewish Organization of Williamsburg. He attended a meeting with Mamdani at City Hall in March.
“I am going. It’s right and appropriate,” Niederman said Sunday.
Mamdani’s office insisted he has strong ties to the Jewish community.
“Since taking office, Mayor Mamdani has made it a priority to consistently show up for and build relationships across New York City’s Jewish communities — celebrating holidays and engaging with Jewish life across neighborhoods and traditions while taking steps to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe,” Mamdani spokesman Sam Raskin said.
“Monday’s Shavuot celebration at Gracie Mansion is one of many ways the mayor is engaging with Jewish New Yorkers, and he looks forward to welcoming the full breadth of the Jewish community, across the political and religious spectrum, on Monday.”
About 150 people representing a cross-section of the city’s diverse Jewish community are attending Monday’s event, according to City Hall.
Mamdani’s budget plan includes $26 million for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, a more than 800% increase and fulfilling the mayor’s campaign promise to fight antisemitism, his office noted.
But the mayor recently confirmed he will not be attending the Israel Day Parade.
Mamdani supports the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel and doesn’t recognize the country as the Jewish state. He has also associated with people critics claim are antisemitic.
Meanwhile, Big Apple First Lady Rama Duwaji’s reportedly curated Spotify playlists with songs that have foulmouthed anti-Israel lyrics — with one bizarrely titled “hungry but sexy for Palestine.”
Her past social media posts have also come back to haunt her.
Duwaji was caught liking celebratory Instagram posts in the aftermath of Hamas’s sneak Oct, 7, 2023 assault on Israel and a post claiming the rapes carried out by the terror group against Israeli hostages and victims were a “mass hoax.”
Duwaji, an artist who was profiled in a New York magazine piece weeks before Mamdani took office, was also exposed for old inflammatory social media posts. She declared in one 2015 post that Tel Aviv “shouldn’t exist in the first place” while calling its residents “occupiers.”
