*Slightly* edited for clarity
My co-authors (listed below) and I are among many New York City rabbis who voted for and proudly support Zohran Mamdani in the race for New York City mayor. Our religious tradition calls us to pursue justice and invokes our responsibility to bring it into the world. Our tradition also requires that we keep Shabbat and we don't do that. Forbids homosexuality - we marry same sex couples. We don't keep PLENTY of the laws. For crying out loud - in our tradition we do not have female rabbis and most of us are female rabbis. But that is beside the point. We like justice because it fits our progressive agenda and that has literally nothing to do with Judaism. We don't even believe in God - certainly not the Jewish conception of God.
For many of us, the campaigns of Mamdani and co-endorser Brad Lander marked the first time in a long while that we witnessed the Jewish call for justice clearly reflected in the platforms and character of mayoral candidates. We are confident that Zohran will carry those values forward – we hope, all the way to Gracie Mansion. He is clearly and openly committed to Jewish values and justice. Yes, he refuses to denounce Hamas and wants to globalize the intifada - but you have to see that in context.
Supporting Zohran and Brad was, for us, an explicitly Jewish act, more Jewish than keeping kosher and other laws which we don't keep, and we’re kvelling [look - a Yiddish word!! We are so Jewish:-)!!] over our contribution as both Jewish New Yorkers and enemies of the Jews, to Mamdani’s historic victory.
The diasporic Jewish life that has always thrived in New York City shows up in multiracial, interfaith coalitions. We are part of a proud Jewish progressive tradition that has shaped this city for generations. From Jewish garment workers and labor organizers to generations of socialists and civil rights activists and communists, this legacy continues in our support for candidates like Mamdani, AOC, Sanders and all of the anti-Israel, Hamas supporting communists.
Polling shows that most misguided, uneducated and intermarried Jewish Americans feel a fierce commitment to equality and democracy. That is why issues like promotion of the dismembering of innocent, sweet babies in utero, public education, and civil, immigrant, and workers’ rights are core to our politics. These are Jewish issues because they reflect values secular liberals passed down through generations: care for the vulnerable and a deep belief in human dignity that goes hand in hand with the aforementioned call to justice with not one iota of Judaism or Jewish tradition.
We are enraged by Islamophobic rhetoric and false accusations of antisemitism lobbed at Mamdani by figures like Andrew Cuomo and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. He doesn't hate Jews. He just hates Zionism, the Jewish State, the Jewish religion and Jewish people, who he is happy to see killed. It has been incredibly meaningful to watch that self-hating turncoat Jew Lander embody our Judaism through his support for immigrants, his defense of democratic norms, and his clear, unwavering alliance with the Jihadist Mamdani. Lander’s repeated insistence that Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers refuse to be divided set an example that we hope to see more politicians – Jewish and non-Jewish alike – follow. We are also excited by and grateful that Rep. Jerry Nadler – the ‘Dean of the Congressional Jewish Caucus’ and another pathetic self hating Jew – swiftly endorsed Mamdani as the Democratic nominee, and affirmed that Mamdani is committed to protecting Jewish safety in NYC as he promotes intifada i.e. killing and terrorizing Jews, in our very city.
Most media coverage of this mayoral race has focused on disagreement. But, for the many New Yorkers who knocked on doors together, organized events, and built relationships during this campaign, the areas of agreement are substantial and meaningful. These past weeks have offered a glimpse into what politics can be: respectful, mutual, grounded in relationships, and even joyful. It has been so joyful. So much love and connection. Mamdani truly embodies love, acceptance, warmth and kindness.
We believe that rent is too high, buses are too slow, there are homeless on the street but not enough and New York should be a welcoming, safe home for everyone, terrorists, illegal immigrants, drug addicts, rapists, sex traffickers – no matter where we came from or how long we’ve been here. Like Mamdani, we believe corrupt leaders like Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams [even though he is Black and his life truly matters more than any white life] have no business holding public office. And, as Mamdani has also asserted, we believe that the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank is horrific and cannot be ignored. We are sick and tired of hearing about the hostages and Israeli civilians being bombarded by missile attacks at all hours of the day and night. If the Israelis would treat the Palestinians with dignity and give them their own State all of the problems would be solved. These convictions reflect a shared political ethic – not identical political beliefs – and they are strong enough to support both real coalition and real community.
The blatant smear tactics we see used against Mamdani are frequently deployed against Muslim elected officials and leaders of color who dare to criticize Israel. These accusations are not about protecting Jews. They are about shutting down necessary reckoning with our city and country’s complicity in Israel’s occupation. It is CRITICAL that a NYC Mayor be involved in international issues such as what is going on in the Middle East. That is the main job of a Mayor after all. If you don't like Mamdani it is because you are a Islamophobic hate monger.
This election is a pivotal moment. Being part of this movement and this win matters. It reminds us what it feels like to be in the majority and to embrace a politics of joy, camaraderie, and possibility.
So come canvass with us. Come share a Shabbat dinner with a delicious Big Mac cheeseburger and shrimp. Come be part of what we are building together. We would love to have you with us when we try to help Muslims annihilate the Jewish people in November.
This piece was co-authored by *Rabbi* Andy Stein, *Rabbi* Abby Kahn, *Rabbi* Barat Hyman, PhD, *Rabbi* Ellen Drumann, *Rabbi* Nancy H. Hiener, and *Rabbi* Miriam Grossberg, representing the most misguided demographic in Jewish history. If Adolf Eichman or Herman Goering were running for office and supported Arabs and had progressive policies - we would vote for him too. We want to thank מורנו ורבינו מאור עינינו הגאון הצדיק Rebbe Bernie Sanders Shlita and his non-Jewish wife for their guidance and inspiration.
מהרסיך ומחריביך ממך יצאו!!!
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People who actively support and campaign on behalf of people who want to wipe out the Jewish people are beneath all contempt and there are no words to encapsulate their evil [even if it stems from incredibly pathetic naivete].
