Mayor Mamdani Meets NYC Rabbis Over Rising Antisemitism

Mayor Zohran Mamdani held a closed-door, hour-long roundtable at City Hall with ten rabbis from Reform, Conservative and Modern Orthodox streams. The meeting, organized by the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, let Jewish leaders voice concerns about how the mayor’s public statements on Israel affect safety and belonging for New York’s Jewish community.

The Jerusalem PostNew York TimesABC7 New YorkJewish InsiderWashington Examiner10 Rabbis Confront Mamdani Over His Role in Fanning Flames of Anti-Semitism

NYPD data show an 8.5 % increase in anti-Jewish incidents in the first seven months of 2026, and Jews accounted for 57 % of all hate crimes reported in 2025 despite comprising about 10 % of the city’s population. Mamdani has revoked the city’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism and lifted a ban on city agencies participating in the BDS movement.

Washington Examiner

The rabbis said the mayor’s “harsh rhetoric” and focus on Israel create a climate in which Jewish New Yorkers feel “unsafe” and “vulnerable.” They called for greater NYPD visibility at synagogues, schools and other Jewish sites and for concrete security measures.

The Jerusalem Post

Rabbis urged the mayor to separate criticism of Israeli government actions from hostility toward American Jews, warning that the current approach “sets our antennae going crazy.” Some expressed doubt that past promises would translate into real security improvements.

The Jerusalem Post

• 8.5 % rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes (first seven months of 2026) – NYPD.

Washington Examiner

• 57 % of all hate crimes reported in 2025 targeted Jews – NYPD.

Washington Examiner

• The roundtable included 10 rabbis from major denominations across the five boroughs.

The Jerusalem Post

• “I’m happy to work in partnership with your administration, but Mr. Mayor, you are 90 percent of what could be different here,” — Rabbi Rick Jacobs

New York Times

• “What's happening is that New Yorkers and Americans are taking out their anger at the Israeli government on Jewish people here, and that's not OK,” — Rabbi Rachel Timoner

ABC7 New York

• “Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal and the architect of a horrific genocide,” — Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor

ABC7 New York

City officials said a comprehensive strategy to combat antisemitism will be released next month. The mayor’s office plans to keep meeting with Jewish leaders to assess security needs and monitor the impact of public statements on community relations.

Jewish Insider