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On Wednesday, over 650 rabbis issued a stark warning against supporting Democratic Socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, asserting that his election could jeopardize “the safety and dignity of Jews in every city.” Their concerns stem from Mamdani’s reluctance to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada,” his dismissal of Israel’s legitimacy, and his “genocide” allegations, according to a letter released by the Jewish Majority.
In an open letter titled “A Rabbinic Call to Action: Defending the Jewish Future,” the rabbis expressed their alarm over the growing acceptance of anti-Zionism in U.S. political discourse. They emphasized that when figures like Mamdani fail to condemn violent rhetoric, reject Israel’s legitimacy, and accuse the Jewish state of genocide, it undermines the Jewish community and fuels animosity towards Jews and Judaism.
The letter, quoting Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, president of the New York Board of Rabbis, highlighted that such language not only delegitimizes the Jewish community but also aggravates hostility towards them, crossing the line from policy disagreement to endangering the community.
Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue, another signatory, underscored that Zionism and Jewish self-determination are integral to Jewish identity. “Zionism, Israel, Jewish self-determination — these aren’t mere political preferences or partisan points,” he stated. “They are fundamental components of my Jewish identity. To accept me as a Jew while asking me to disregard my concern for Israel is both illogical and offensive.”
The rabbis firmly stated, “We will not tolerate a culture where Jewish self-determination is treated as negotiable or where Jewish inclusion is seen as something to be ‘granted.’ The safety and dignity of Jews everywhere depend on rejecting this false dichotomy.”
The letter calls on Americans who cherish peace and equality to support candidates who repudiate antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric and affirm Israel’s right to live in peace and security.
“We will not accept a culture that treats Jewish self-determination as a negotiable ideal or Jewish inclusion as something to be ‘granted,’” the rabbis wrote. “The safety and dignity of Jews in every city depend on rejecting that false choice.”
The letter urges Americans “who value peace and equality” to stand up for candidates who reject antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric and affirm Israel’s right to exist in peace and security.
It also appealed to interfaith and communal partners “to stand with the Jewish community in rejecting this dangerous rhetoric and to affirm the rights of Jews to live securely and with dignity.”
Released shortly before Wednesday night’s debate, the warning landed as early voting nears, with signers pressing what they called an urgent need to counter the normalization of anti-Zionism in public life.
“Now is the time for everyone to unite across political and moral divides, and to reject the language that seeks to delegitimize our Jewish identity and our community,” the letter concluded.
