New York Jewish groups snub Mayor Mamdani over Israel stance

Leaders of several mainstream Jewish organisations in New York are planning to boycott a “Jewish Heritage” celebration hosted by Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion, citing his stance on Israel and related rhetoric.

At least three prominent figures, including representatives linked to the group that organises the city’s annual Israel Day Parade, have said they will not attend., as per report by The New York Post, The UJA-Federation of New York stated: “We will not be attending the Jewish American Heritage Month celebration at Gracie Mansion, being hosted by a mayor who denies a core pillar of our heritage — the State of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people,” the organisation said in a statement.

Mark Treyger, head of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, also confirmed he would not attend. “It’s a really telling and concerning sign of where things stand in New York City right now,” he said. Treyger added that tensions were further heightened after Mamdani marked “Nakba Day” in a Friday post ahead of Shabbat, which included an interview with a “Nakba survivor.”

“The mayor issued a social media production which omitted significant parts of history. It only inflamed tensions further,” Treyger said.

He linked the controversy to recent anti-Israel protests outside a synagogue on Park Avenue and a senior center in Brooklyn, as well as the arrest of a suspect allegedly tied to Iran’s military who planned to attack a synagogue. “We’re looking for leadership that New Yorkers deserve to lower the temperature and bring people together — now more than ever,” he said.

Joseph Potasnik also declined the invitation. “Jewish heritage should include recognition of the state of Israel,” he said. “Jewish history didn’t end in 1946 … We will be marching in the Israel Day Parade to express our support for Israel.”

However, David Niederman said he would attend: “I am going. It’s right and appropriate.”

Mamdani’s office defended his record. Spokesman Sam Raskin said the mayor has prioritised engagement with Jewish communities and noted the Shavuot event as part of broader outreach efforts.

City Hall expects about 150 attendees. Officials also highlighted a $26 million allocation in the mayor’s budget for hate crime prevention. Mamdani, who supports the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement and does not recognise Israel as a Jewish state, has confirmed he will not attend the Israel Day Parade.

By Tamilla Hasanova