Copyright The New York Times
The controversy over Zohran Mamdani’s criticism of Israel has moved well beyond New York City, where he is the front-runner in the race for mayor, and is roiling American Jews across the nation. While tensions have been simmering in New York for months, the debate over what Mr. Mamdani’s ascent means for the future of Jews in American politics is now playing out in community centers, homes and congregations from Atlanta to Albuquerque, Houston to Highland Park, Ill. and beyond. A recent letter signed by more than 1,100 rabbis across the country decrying the “political normalization” of anti-Zionism has pushed the debate into the synagogue pulpit, as American Jews all over searched the list of signatories to see if their rabbis did — or did not — sign. The letter cited Mr. Mamdani by name and warned that the “safety and dignity of Jews in every city” depends on electing candidates who accept Israel as a cornerstone of Jewish identity. In response, a coalition of left-wing American Jewish groups critical of Israel released its own letter rejecting the “attempts by some legacy Jewish institutions” to silence “progressive and anti-Zionist voices” within the Jewish community. Another set of rabbis signed a third letter noting that Islamophobia is also on the rise and “Jewish safety cannot be built on Muslim vulnerability.” The competing voices show how the New York City mayor’s race has become a proxy for a broader debate about antisemitism, anti-Zionism and the power of Jews in American politics that has intensified since the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
