New York May Get First Muslim Mayor, Jewish Voters Split in Two Camps

New York: There is an atmosphere of anxiety and tension in the Jewish community just before the mayoral elections to be held on Tuesday in New York. Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani is on the verge of becoming the first Muslim mayor of the area with the city's largest Jewish population.

He has attracted many progressive Jewish voters with promises of reducing inflation and eradicating hatred. But his harsh criticism of Israel and his words calling the military action in Gaza 'genocide' are scaring the entire community. This concern is not limited to New York but is spread among Jews across America.

Why is tension increasing in the Jewish community?

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of Manhattan's famed Central Synagogue condemned Mamdani's Israel-related comments in a sermon on Friday. He endorsed neither Democratic opponent Andrew Cuomo nor Republican Curtis Sliwa. Buchdahl appealed that New York Jews stay out of political fights. "This puts us all in danger. We are imposing a 'with or against' test on each other," he said. Buchdahl faced criticism for not signing an open letter by more than a thousand rabbis that strongly condemned Mamdani.

Why are Mamdani's comments hurting Jews?

Buchdahl accused Mamdani of using his words to defame Israelis and fuel old anti-Semitic stereotypes– such as Jews being the root of all the world's problems. He said Mamdani had brought some of the most disgusting anti-Semitic ideas into the mainstream. This statement, just before the elections, displeased many Jews. Buchdahl clarified that she could not support or oppose any candidate out of principle.

How is Mamdani reassuring Jewish voters?

Mamdani maintained ties to the Jewish community throughout the campaign. He has promised to increase funding for investigations into anti-Semitic incidents. Condemning violence in the Middle East, he called the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023 a 'horrible war crime'. But did not abandon Palestinian rights either. Mamdani said that if Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu comes to New York, he should be arrested on an ICC warrant. “Let us never give up believing that the lives of Israelis, Palestinians, Jews and Arabs – all lives are equally precious,” he said, citing the brother of an Israeli killed on October 7.

Is Mamdani a 'threat' to the community?

Buchdahl acknowledged that young Jews do not vote out of fear but instead want to weigh in on every issue. But prominent Conservative Rabbi Eliot Cosgrove, who signed the letter of a thousand rabbis, said Mamdani posed a threat to the safety of New York's Jewish community. Cosgrove stressed that Zionism, Jewish self-determination, and Israel-related politics are central to Jewish identity – not a party line. In a recent report, the anti-Semitism watchdog has also expressed concern over Mamdani.

This election will not only change the politics of New York but will also affect Jewish-Muslim relations in America. Mamdani's victory could bring progressive change, but the biggest challenge will be to allay the community's fears.