^{Credit: Bingjiefu He via Commons Wikimedia}

The Jewish organization B’nai B’rith International has issued a statement expressing deep concern over the election of Zohran Mamdani as the new mayor of New York City. The organization cited the politician’s record regarding Israel and his public positions on the Middle East conflict. 

"Last night, New York City elected a mayor whose record of hostility toward Israel and indifference to anti-Semitism should deeply concern all New Yorkers.

Zohran Mamdani has consistently rejected Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state; co-founded a Students for Justice in Palestine chapter; embraced the anti-Semitic BDS movement; refused to condemn calls to “globalize the intifada”; aligned himself with anti-Semites such as Hasan Piker; and repeatedly smeared Israel with false claims of “genocide.”

New York is home to the largest Jewish population outside the State of Israel. Mamdani’s blatant anti-Zionist extremism and dog-whistle anti-Semitism should have disqualified him from the race, not rewarded him with the mayoralty.

“This moment demands clarity and resolve. Anti-Semitism in public life is never just a ‘political difference,’ ” B’nai B’rith CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin said. “We wish only the best for New York City and its Jewish community and will be watching to see that the new mayor protects the vulnerable Jewish population from security threats. He must also desist from defaming the Jewish state and invariably spurring the increase of anti-Semitism in his city.”

Jewish self-determination in our ancestral homeland is neither a political position nor an ideological preference. It is a core truth of Jewish identity that no public official can dismiss or diminish.

This is a troubling day for New Yorkers of all backgrounds. But Mamdani’s election represents a foreboding moment in particular for Jewish New Yorkers—and for the broader fight against anti-Semitism. While we hope he governs differently than he has campaigned, we cannot ignore his deplorable record on Israel or the message this election sends to our community. We refuse to allow hostility toward Jews and Israel to become normalized in public life.

We will continue to monitor Mayor-elect Mamdani’s actions closely and speak out forcefully against rhetoric or policies that threaten the Jewish community, undermine democratic values or legitimize hatred. We will hold him fully accountable from day one."

New York is home to the largest Jewish community in the United States, while also facing high levels of hate crimes. According to data from the New York Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, in 2024 there were 976 antisemitic incidents, including 69 physical attacks against Jews.

Following the election results, a new antisemitic episode occurred almost immediately. The day after Mamdani’s victory, the Jewish preschool Yeshiva Magen David was found vandalized with red swastikas.

^{Yeshiva Magen David was found vandalized with red swastikas. Credit: NYPD Hate Crimes}

In response to the attack in Brooklyn, the new mayor released a statement condemning the incident:

"This is a disgusting and heartbreaking act of antisemitism, and it has no place in our beautiful city. As Mayor, I will always stand steadfast with our Jewish neighbors to root the scourge of antisemitism out of our city."

The statement seeks to ease concerns within the Jewish community, which views the start of Mamdani’s administration with caution. His term will be closely watched by Jewish organizations and human rights groups, who expect concrete action against antisemitism and hate speech.