By: Fern Sidman

Nearly 800 rabbis from across the United States — including some of New York City’s most prominent Jewish spiritual leaders — released a powerful open letter on Wednesday condemning Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani for what they described as his “dangerous” and divisive rhetoric regarding Israel and Zionism.

The letter, obtained and first reported by The New York Daily News on Wednesday evening, was signed by 788 rabbis nationwide, among them well-known Manhattan clergy such as Rabbi Joshua Davidson of Temple Emanu-El and Rabbi David Gelfand of Temple Israel. The wide-ranging statement, coordinated by the advocacy group Jewish Majority, accused Mamdani of helping to “fuel antisemitism” through his repeated accusations that Israel is committing “genocide” in Gaza and his past refusal to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada” — a slogan that many Jewish organizations view as an implicit call for violence against Jews and the State of Israel.

“We call on all Americans who value peace and equality to participate fully in the democratic process in order to stand up for candidates who reject antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric, and who affirm Israel’s right to exist in peace and security,” the rabbis wrote in the statement published Wednesday, according to the report in The New York Daily News.

The signatories, representing a broad cross-section of Jewish denominations and political affiliations, emphasized the importance of unity against antisemitic speech — particularly as tensions continue to mount in New York City following months of pro-Hamas protests and antisemitic incidents.

“We also call on our interfaith and communal partners to stand with the Jewish community in rejecting this dangerous rhetoric and to affirm the rights of Jews to live securely and with dignity,” the rabbis added.

As The New York Daily News reported, the open letter’s publication coincided with the final New York City mayoral debate on Wednesday evening, where Mamdani’s views on Israel became one of the defining flashpoints.

Mamdani, a Muslim assemblyman from Queens and an outspoken advocate for Hamas, has long drawn sharp criticism from Jewish and pro-Israel groups for his statements about the conflict in Gaza. Since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel — a massacre that saw approximately 1,200 Israelis and others brutally murdered and which led to the kidnapping of over 250 civilians — Mamdani has accused Israel of committing genocide, citing findings from a controversial United Nations commission.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is operated by Hamas, Israel’s counteroffensive has resulted in the deaths of more than 65,000 Palestinians — figures that have been widely disputed by both Israeli and U.S. intelligence agencies.

Mamdani has defended his characterization of Israel’s military actions, saying he is “speaking truth to power” on behalf of Palestinian civilians. “I have never condoned violence against Jews or Israelis,” he told supporters at a campaign event last week, adding that his goal was “to end occupation and promote peace.”

However, many Jewish leaders believe Mamdani’s rhetoric has crossed a line from legitimate criticism into dangerous demagoguery.

“Words matter,” said one Manhattan rabbi who signed the letter, speaking to The New York Daily News. “When a mayoral candidate amplifies accusations of genocide or refuses to condemn calls for intifada, it emboldens extremists. It makes Jewish New Yorkers feel unsafe in their own city.”

One of the central flashpoints in the rabbis’ letter is Mamdani’s handling of the “Globalize the Intifada” slogan — a chant heard frequently at anti-Israel demonstrations throughout New York since the outbreak of the Gaza war.

As The New York Daily News report recounted, Mamdani initially declined to condemn the phrase when pressed by reporters earlier this year, saying he did not personally use it but would not criticize those who did. His comments triggered a wave of backlash from Jewish groups and community leaders, who accused him of normalizing violent rhetoric associated with the deadly Palestinian uprisings of the past.

Amid mounting public pressure, Mamdani later reversed course, saying that while he personally opposes the slogan, he recognizes the “deep pain” it causes to Jewish New Yorkers and would discourage its use.

Despite his clarification, the controversy has continued to haunt his campaign, with opponents — including former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa — seizing on the issue to portray Mamdani as the true radical that he is and someone who is out of touch with the city’s Jewish and moderate voters.

What makes the rabbis’ open letter particularly significant, according to the report in The New York Daily News, is its broad ideological diversity. The 788 signatories include rabbis affiliated with Reform, Conservative, and Modern Orthodox congregations, as well as several prominent educators and leaders of national Jewish organizations.

The statement’s organizers, led by Jonathan Schulman, a senior executive at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), emphasized that their goal was not to endorse any specific candidate, but rather to “draw a clear moral line” at rhetoric that they believe threatens Jewish safety and undermines the legitimacy of the Jewish state.

“Antisemitism doesn’t always come wearing a swastika,” Schulman told The New York Daily News. “Sometimes it comes disguised as social justice language — and when that happens, we have a responsibility to speak out.”

The signatories also noted that while most of them live outside New York, they see the city as “a bellwether for American Jewry.” One Chicago rabbi described New York as “the beating heart of the Jewish diaspora,” adding that what happens there “resonates far beyond its five boroughs.”

Mamdani’s campaign did not issue an immediate response to the rabbis’ letter late Wednesday, according to the report in The New York Daily News, though the candidate has repeatedly denied accusations of antisemitism.

He insists his criticism of Israel is directed at government policy, not at Jews or Judaism. “I reject antisemitism in all its forms,” he said at a rally in Queens earlier this month, pledging that as mayor he would increase funding for hate-crime prevention programs nine-fold to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate.

Still, his efforts to strike a conciliatory tone have done little to reassure his critics.

“He can’t erase the damage he’s done with one soundbite,” Rabbi Gelfand of Temple Israel told The New York Daily News after the letter’s publication. “When you accuse the world’s only Jewish state of genocide and refuse to stand with your city’s Jewish community, it sends a message. And that message is dangerous.”

The dispute over Mamdani’s remarks has unfolded amid a surge in antisemitic incidents in New York City, which remains home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, more than half of all hate crimes reported in New York in 2024 targeted Jewish residents — a trend that has continued into 2025. Recent months have seen a spike in attacks against visibly Orthodox Jews, as well as threats against synagogues and Jewish schools.

The New York Daily News report noted that city officials, including outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, have expressed alarm over the wave of hate incidents and called for greater coordination between law enforcement and community organizations.

Against this backdrop, the rabbis’ letter serves as both a rebuke of Mamdani’s rhetoric and a broader warning about the fragility of Jewish safety in a city long celebrated for its diversity.

With the November 4 election less than two weeks away, the letter’s timing could have significant political repercussions. Polls reviewed by The New York Daily News show Mamdani holding a narrow lead over Cuomo, with Republican Curtis Sliwa trailing in third place.

Political observers say the controversy may galvanize moderate and Jewish voters — particularly in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and parts of Queens — who have expressed concern over Mamdani’s positions on Israel and public safety.

“This letter could be a turning point,” said one Democratic strategist quoted in The New York Daily News report. “It crystallizes a fear that’s been simmering under the surface — that New York, of all places, could elect a mayor who views the Jewish state as a colonial oppressor rather than a homeland.”

Whether the rabbis’ collective voice will alter the race’s trajectory remains to be seen. But their message — resolute and unambiguous — underscores the deep divisions that now define New York’s political and moral landscape.

“Our city thrives when it stands against hate,” the rabbis wrote in closing. “And it falters when those seeking to lead it traffic in rhetoric that divides us.”