Hundreds of Rabbis Demand Apology Over Mayor’s AIPAC Criticism
More than 700 rabbis have called on Mayor Zohran Mamdani to issue an apology for recent statements he made concerning the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The religious leaders contend that the mayor’s characterization of the organization as “monsters” constitutes a form of dehumanization that places Jewish Americans and their supporters at risk.
During a rally held on June 18, prior to New York City’s Democratic primaries, Mayor Mamdani described AIPAC as an entity that utilizes “millions in dark money to accomplish a single goal — to preserve their power, so that they can turn us against one another.” These remarks quickly drew significant criticism.
A letter, signed by the hundreds of rabbis, expressed profound concern that Mamdani’s rhetoric could exacerbate antisemitism. The signatories, representing congregations with diverse perspectives on Israel, American politics, and the conflict in Gaza, stated, “By casting pro-Israel civic participation as monstrous, conspiratorial and anti-democratic, Mr. Mamdani has put a target on the backs of American Jews and their allies.”
Rabbis Highlight Mayor’s Influence and Rising Antisemitism
The letter emphasized the weight of the mayor’s words, noting, “Mr. Mamdani’s words matter because they were spoken by the leader of the city with the largest Jewish population outside Israel. They matter because antisemitism in America is rising.” The signatories deemed the comments “beneath the office he holds.” The list of those who signed included numerous rabbis from New York City, alongside hundreds more from across the nation.
Mayor Mamdani, when addressing questions following the signing of an executive order on Monday, defended his statements. His team subsequently pointed to this public statement in response to inquiries regarding the criticism.
“We’re talking about a status quo where children are being killed on a daily basis,” Mamdani stated when asked about the backlash. “And when I am speaking about AIPAC, I’m speaking about an organization that has been supportive of the status quo, that has fought any attempt to actually deliver safety to people not just in Palestine, but frankly, through much of the region. And it is a status quo for immorality. It is one that I will not accept.”
Mamdani Cites Gramsci, Defends Stance on ‘Monsters’
When questioned further about his use of the term “monsters,” Mayor Mamdani indicated he was referencing the philosopher Antonio Gramsci. “I used the term to describe all those who are preventing the birth of a new world. Not solely AIPAC, but frankly, super PACs at large who are spending millions of dollars in deceptive and misleading ads that are blanketing the airwaves,” he explained.
In addressing concerns about antisemitism, Mamdani’s office shared a statement from an earlier event in May. “Jewish New Yorkers have worked to cultivate a city that is safe and open to all,” the mayor had said. “You should be accorded the same security and the same peace of mind.” He also highlighted the city’s commitment to invest $26 million annually in expanding hate crime prevention efforts, stressing the importance of deterrence over mere response.
Prominent Figures Condemn Mayor’s Language
Criticism of Mayor Mamdani’s remarks extended beyond the group of rabbis. Representative Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., wrote on social media platform X, “Swap ‘AIPAC’ for ‘Jews’ and it’s the oldest antisemitic conspiracy theory in the books. That’s not criticizing a lobby. That’s laundering antisemitism from your podium as Mayor of a city with more than a million Jews. This bull—- is dangerous.”
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, characterized the mayor’s statements as “prejudice” and described them as “deliberate, dangerous and disgraceful.” Greenblatt added, “This is the kind of bigoted conspiracy mongering that you expect from unhinged streamers or white supremacists. It’s not the language that we should expect from the mayor whose jurisdiction suffers from the highest levels of antisemitism of any city in America.”
Rabbis’ Letter Calls for Apology and Reassurance
The rabbis concluded their letter by urging the mayor to apologize, retract his statements, and unequivocally affirm that “Jews and pro-Israel Americans are full participants in our democracy.” The letter stated, “We can debate policy. We can argue about money in politics. We can disagree passionately about Israel and the Middle East. But no elected leader should demonize Jews or those who stand with the Jewish state. Criticizing Israeli policy is not antisemitic. Treating millions of Zionist Jews as morally suspect, politically illegitimate or less deserving of equal participation in public life is.”
