By: Tzirel Rosenblatt – Jewish Voice News

The morning after his historic election as New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, Zohran Mamdani found himself at the center of an intensifying confrontation with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) — a dispute that underscores the deep anxieties his victory has stirred among Jewish leaders across the city.

As Israel National News reported on Wednesday, the ADL announced a new, wide-reaching initiative to monitor Mamdani’s administration amid what it described as an “unprecedented rise in antisemitic incidents” throughout New York. The move reflects mounting concerns that Mamdani’s long record of inflammatory rhetoric about Israel, and his ties to individuals accused of antisemitism, may translate into policies or appointments that endanger the city’s Jewish community.

ADL CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt minced no words in a statement issued Tuesday night. “Mayor-elect Mamdani has promoted antisemitic narratives, associated with individuals who have a history of antisemitism, and demonstrated intense animosity toward the Jewish state,” he said. “We are deeply concerned that those individuals and principles will influence his administration.”

According to the Israel National News report, Mamdani — a self-described democratic socialist and outspoken critic of Israel’s military actions — won the mayoralty after defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa in one of the most polarizing elections in modern New York history.

While his win was celebrated by progressive activists and immigrant communities, Jewish New Yorkers reacted with visible apprehension. Many cited Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada” — a rallying cry widely seen as endorsing violence against Jews — and his characterization of Israel’s counterterrorism operations as “genocide.”

Against that backdrop, Greenblatt’s organization has taken the extraordinary step of formalizing a monitoring program focused exclusively on the incoming administration. As the Israel National News report detailed, the initiative includes a citywide tipline for reporting antisemitic incidents, expanded ADL research into municipal policy decisions that could impact Jewish communities, and a new public accountability tracker dubbed the “Mamdani Monitor.”

The ADL’s data paints a stark picture: 976 antisemitic incidents were recorded in New York City in 2024, more than in any other American city, with Jews representing over half of all victims of hate crimes.

“This is not about politics — it’s about accountability,” Greenblatt said, as quoted in the Israel National News report. “Our message is simple: we will hold the Mamdani administration accountable to the basic standard of ensuring Jewish safety and dignity in this city.”

Confronted with the ADL’s announcement, Mamdani struck a tone of both defiance and conciliation during an impromptu press conference Wednesday morning.

“I have not met with Jonathan Greenblatt,” Mamdani said. “But I take the issue of antisemitism incredibly seriously. In my victory speech, I spoke about how my City Hall will stand steadfast with Jewish New Yorkers in fighting antisemitism across the city and making that clear in the actions we deliver on January 1st.”

As the Israel National News report observed, Mamdani’s remarks reflected an attempt to recast himself as a unifying figure in the wake of a divisive campaign — though critics have questioned the sincerity of his outreach.

The mayor-elect continued, “I look forward to working with Jewish leaders across this city, whether they’re elected officials, rabbis, or community leaders, to deliver on the promise of not just protecting Jewish New Yorkers, but celebrating and cherishing them in the same city.”

Yet he could not resist a pointed jab at the ADL’s director, remarking, “Anyone is free to catalogue my administration’s actions, but I have doubts about Jonathan’s ability to do so honestly, given that he previously said I had not visited any synagogues, only to have to correct himself.”

This swipe at Greenblatt — a longtime civil rights advocate who has made combating antisemitism his life’s mission — did little to calm fears. “Mamdani has made a career out of undermining Israel and excusing those who demonize Jews,” one Jewish communal leader told Israel National News. “To suggest that the ADL is dishonest because it challenges him is not a good start.”

As reported by Israel National News, the ADL’s new initiative marks a significant escalation in its approach to municipal oversight. Historically, the organization has worked collaboratively with city administrations to address antisemitic hate crimes and promote education. But the “Mamdani Monitor” represents a more confrontational stance — one that reflects profound mistrust between Jewish advocacy groups and the incoming mayor.

Among its measures, the program will:

Track municipal hiring and appointments for potential connections to extremist or antisemitic organizations.

Review public statements and social media posts by administration officials for antisemitic tropes or anti-Israel rhetoric.

Evaluate education policy for bias in curricula related to Jewish and Israeli history.

Publish quarterly reports on City Hall’s engagement with Jewish institutions.

According to the information provided in the Israel National News report, the ADL’s internal decision to launch the initiative was not taken lightly. The organization debated whether such a direct oversight mechanism might inflame tensions further. Ultimately, Greenblatt concluded that “extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures.”

New York City’s Jewish community — the largest outside Israel — has endured a series of violent antisemitic attacks over the past two years. From assaults in Brooklyn to vandalism of synagogues and Jewish schools, the sense of vulnerability has deepened.

“The problem is not abstract,” Greenblatt told Israel National News. “When a mayor-elect uses language that normalizes hostility toward Israel or excuses hate against Jews, it creates a permissive environment for antisemitism to flourish. That is unacceptable.”

The ADL’s fears, shared by many, stem not only from Mamdani’s record but from the political ecosystem that propelled him to power. As Israel National News has reported, Mamdani’s campaign was heavily supported by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) — a group with a well-documented record of anti-Israel activism and opposition to the city’s annual Israel Day Parade.

Some of Mamdani’s allies have also praised Hamas-linked movements and called for boycotts of Jewish-owned businesses tied to Israel. Though Mamdani has publicly distanced himself from such rhetoric, critics remain skeptical.

For Mamdani, the challenge ahead will be threading an almost impossible political needle: maintaining credibility among his socialist base while convincing wary Jewish voters that he intends to govern inclusively.

His early overtures have been met with mixed reactions. “We’ll judge him by his actions,” Greenblatt reiterated to Israel National News. “We don’t care about speeches — we care about results. If Mayor Mamdani truly believes in standing with Jewish New Yorkers, we’ll be the first to applaud him. But if he betrays that promise, we’ll be the first to call him out.”

Political observers say that the tension between Mamdani and the ADL could define his early months in office, especially as hate crime rates remain high and public confidence in City Hall’s handling of antisemitism continues to erode.

“Mamdani cannot ignore this issue,” one analyst told Israel National News. “The ADL’s spotlight will ensure that every word, every decision, and every policy related to the Jewish community will be scrutinized.”

For now, Mamdani appears determined to project confidence and control. “New York is a city of immigrants, of dreamers, of believers,” he said, echoing his victory speech. “That includes our Jewish neighbors — and I will do everything in my power to make sure they feel safe, supported, and celebrated.”

But as the Israel National News report observed, the mayor-elect’s conciliatory words may not be enough to ease the unease coursing through Jewish New York. With the ADL’s unprecedented monitoring initiative underway and deep ideological divides festering beneath the surface, the city’s political landscape stands at a precarious crossroads — one that will test whether Mamdani can truly rise above his past and lead a city still grappling with the oldest hatred of all.