Op-Ed: Mayor-elect Mamdani’s First High Profile Incident

Editorial by Liza Blinn '27

Mamdani's first high-profile incident since his election happened last month over a dispute between an Upper East Side synagogue and a group of pro-Palestinian protestors. Park East Synagogue had been hosting an event assisting the movement of American Jews to Israel, and there were protestors outside chanting “death to the IDF” and “globalize the intifada." The first Intifada, 1987-1993, had been marked by mass demonstrations, commercial strikes, and civil disobedience. The intentional bombings and threats to Israeli citizens marked the second Intifada (2000-2005). Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani responded the next day by condemning the protestors, but claimed “spaces of religious worship shouldn’t be used to promote activities in violation of international law.” 

Nefesh B’Nefesh was the nonprofit organization hosting its event on the day of the incident. The organization promotes the American Jewish movement to Israel, especially to particular cities like Haifa and Tel Aviv. But they promote the movement to occupied

settlements in the West Bank too. Yael Katsman, Nefesh B’Nefeh’s spokeswoman, claimed

that the attendants of their meeting believed in a “holistic overview of the logistics involved in relocating to another country.” She claimed, too, that Nfesh B’Nefesh does not “endorse, recommend, or promote any specific community, location, or neighborhood to move to in Israel.” However, on their website, specific pages detail Israeli settlements, referencing different shops, schools, and everyday life in these settlements. In the settlement of Elkana, located in the West Bank, the website claims it to be “a beautiful, comfortable, and well-situated community in the center of Israel. Location! Location! Location!” 

Jessica Tisch, the commander in chief under Mamdani, claims the NYPD hadn’t done enough that night. On the other hand, the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation Awda of New York and New Jersey, the organization hosting the protest, claimed Park East’s event to be a “settler recruiting fair, which seeks to recruit American settlers to illegally occupy stolen Palestinian land.” Assemblyman Micah Lasher from the Upper West Side believes, “If you are standing outside a synagogue calling for ‘intifada revolution,’ you are not peacefully protesting. You are trying to intimidate and create fear among Jews, and that is never acceptable.” Only a few days later, Rabbi Marc Schneier, son of Park East’s rabbi, suggested that Mamdani back legislation banning protests outside of spaces of religious worship. He gracefully replied, “Rabbi, I love that idea, and I can’t thank you enough.”

Photo Courtesy of nytimes.com

Source: nytimes.com 

Edited by Catherine Polatidis '26 and Ms. Brilliant

Fair Use Disclaimer   

The images and contents in this article are under Fair Use: Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.    

All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.