Based on information from the Jerusalem Post, two rabbis who participated in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s sixty-minute, private meeting at City Hall on Monday remarked upon leaving that they were optimistic and believed the mayor approached the discussion sincerely.
Roundtable Details and Participants
The meeting was convened by the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism and featured 10 rabbis from various Jewish denominations, according to the Jerusalem Post. The Post reached out to several participating rabbis, including Rabbi Jonathan Leener, who leads the Prospect Heights Shul—a liberal Modern Orthodox synagogue in Brooklyn—and Rabbi “S,” who chose to remain anonymous.
“I chose to participate in the roundtable given the opportunity to represent my community’s views directly to the mayor,” Rabbi S told the Post. Rabbi S added that one of the organizers assured participants they would all have a chance to speak, making the outreach feel worthwhile and conducted with an openness to listen.
Rabbi Leener shared a similar motivation, stating to the Post, “As a rabbi, I see my role as an advocate for the safety and well-being of the Jewish people, especially my fellow New Yorkers.” Leener noted that while he has profound disagreements with Mamdani regarding Israel, he felt it was necessary to address those issues directly and discuss concrete steps the city government can take to address antisemitism.
Focus on Rising Antisemitism and Rhetoric
According to both rabbis who spoke with the Post, the predominant focus of the roundtable centered on rising antisemitism in New York City and how the mayor’s hostility toward Israel has contributed to it. Rabbi S recalled that participants conveyed that the mayor’s harsh rhetoric, excessive focus, and continual singling out of Israel alienates constituents and makes Jewish New Yorkers feel unsafe.
“We reiterated that it is hard to feel a sense of partnership when it feels like Israel is being singled out for harsh rhetoric attacks and the mayor is doing nothing to distinguish between Israel and New York City’s Jews,” Rabbi S told the Post. Leener noted that while there were moments of tension and passion, they were expressed respectfully, and participants focused on conveying how isolated and vulnerable many Jewish New Yorkers feel rather than attempting to change the mayor’s views on Israel.
Outside of the mayor’s rhetoric, both rabbis reported a broad consensus that Jew-hatred is making the city unsafe. Leener pointed to shared agreement regarding the seriousness of security concerns facing Jewish institutions and the urgent need for city government responses.
Community Representation and Future Engagement
When responding to backlash regarding Mamdani’s preference for engaging with specific Jewish factions—particularly progressive, left-wing, and anti-Zionist groups—both religious leaders informed the Post that the gathering showcased a wide array of viewpoints. Rabbi S stated that major denominations and a fair geographic cross-section of New York City were represented around the table. Leener concurred, describing the gathering as featuring a thoughtful range of voices.
Both rabbis indicated that the mayor listened attentively, asked clarifying questions, and engaged respectfully. While Rabbi S noted he does not know what to expect going forward, Leener stated that he left feeling cautiously hopeful. Leener emphasized that he will ultimately judge the administration by its actions and results, pointing to concrete security measures—such as making the NYPD presence more accessible to synagogues, Jewish schools, and other institutions—as a primary test for progress.
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