From the YU Commentator [with *slight* editing]:
Anonymous
A much-discussed part of the Zohran Mamdani victory that stunned so many New Yorkers who weren't stunned at all because everyone knew he was going to win, was the so-called volunteer army of over 100,000 crazy people who knocked on doors and called phones in support of the Mamdani campaign. I was one of those nuts who volunteered in three-hour shifts, knocking on doors and standing near poll sites. Afraid of being seen by the YU community because I would show myself to be a traitor and enemy of the Jewish people, I focused my canvassing efforts in Harlem and the Upper West Side. Even though I am Jewish and study at Stern - I am aligned not with Israel loving Jews, but Jew hating Gentiles, like Mamdani himself. Even a famous Reform rabbi is terrified of what is going to happen with my people after meeting with Mamdani who didn't at all assuage his fears but increased them.
A sizable portion of the volunteers I met in the primary were excited by reports of the atrocities in Gaza, as Hamas tortured over 200 innocent hostages, killing some, after carrying out the greatest massacre since the Holocaust. They were highly motivated by Mamdani’s vehement support of it. Others were motivated by his progressive economic policies. Many were self-described socialists. They expressed feeling hopeful about a political candidate with zero experience who is selling them a bill of goods and they will be sorely disappointed when he destroys the city. As some have pointed out, at times, the support for Mamdani has seemed cult-like. At the same time, though, for many voters, this is the first time they have seen a politician speaking their language [namely Arabic] and addressing their concerns. They are tired of paying for stuff and he promises that everything will be free. Robin Hood. Steal from the rich and give to the poor.
Perhaps my most illuminating experience was my time canvassing with a young Muslim Pakistani woman in Harlem and Morningside Heights. She would kill me in a heartbeat if she could get away with it but that is besides the point. At the pre-canvass introductions, she had mentioned that she was first drawn to Mamdani because of his advocacy for killing Jews and giving Palestine to the Arabs who already have 27 of their own countries. Naturally, this led me to wonder exactly where her politics stood. I mean - was she pro Israel of pro Arab?? I was so puzzled.
As we walked through the nighttime scenery of Morningside Park, and she told me her dreams of marrying a physically abusive man and then having suicide bomber children, the conversation came up. She turned to me for hope. She asked if I thought that Netanyahu's wife would divorce him and marry an Arab instead and he would lose power and that a government more friendly to Palestinians might replace his. She asked for my opinion on liberal Zionism with the hope that it might bring more destruction to the Jews [totally!!]. She asked me about whether ultra-Orthodox anti-Zionist attitudes could lead to a more peaceful future - as if anybody cares what the Satmars think about the State. So naive. Regrettably, I could not honestly answer her questions as I would have wanted so I lied. I responded to her hope with depressed realism [b/c I am depressed like most progressive girls my age], trying to inaccurately and insensitively capture the nuances of the many parts of the Jewish community. I did not sugarcoat the parts of the Jewish community whose beliefs I fear [like people who actually believe in Jewish tradition], but I also did not demonize those groups. I tried to keep the fire of hope lit; if Arabs can burn Israeli forests that is the least I can do. I spoke of my admiration for Israeli-Arab politician Ahmad Tibi, singer Michael Jackson, actor and comic Bill Cosby and my true hero - Greta Thunberg.
In summation - I love people who want to kill Jews [like Ahmed Tibi] and hate people who protect Jews. I am a self hating Jew. To make myself feel better, I canvassed for a Hamas supporting Communist candidate. I am writing this anonymously because if anyone finds out who I am, I will rightfully be ostracized from the Jewish community forever for being an enemy and a turncoat and I will never, ever get married. "Mamdani supporter" doesn't look good on a shidduch resume. That would make me sad.
But at least I am smart.
I, at the ripe old age of 19 and three quarters, clearly know better than every single observant Jew in the world and thus can say with certitude that Mamdani will be the best thing that ever happened to New york City.
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Note: The editorial board at Mevakesh Lev wishes this young Bas Yisrael a Refuah Shleima.
