https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/6130352-zohran-mamdani-antisemitism-strategy-criticized/
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) rolled out a first-of-its-kind municipal strategy to combat antisemitism last week, and it has drawn some criticism from Jewish leaders who say its omission of Israel and anti-Zionism overlooks a key factor behind the recent rise in hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers.
A joint statement from the United Jewish Appeal (UJA)-Federation of New York, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, the American Jewish Committee, and the New York Board of Rabbis welcomed elements of the plan but said the city must also confront anti-Israel rhetoric — including Mamdani’s own — to effectively combat antisemitism.
“While the Mayor’s plan has a number of positive elements, including some increased security funding for Jewish institutions and expanding proven programs, it fails to address a central issue that the Mayor himself has perpetuated: rhetoric that demonizes and delegitimizes Israel inevitably leads to the targeting of Jewish New Yorkers,” the groups wrote in a statement.
Can you blame Mamzerdani?
ReplyDeleteIf he goes to his progressive allies they tell him that anti-Zionism has nothing to do with anti-Semitism and that it actually is a form of anti-Semitism itself. These people share his faux-virtue value system.
If he goes to Eichlers and Williamsburg they tell him that Zionism is against the Torah and a fundamental violation of Judaism. All good Jews oppose Zionism! These people share his hatred for Jews who don't hate Israel.
So with plenty of support like that, why would he have a problem with a Jew-hatred platform that still quietly permits anti-Zionism? Any intelligent (ie. not progressive or Chasidic) Jew telling him that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism can be rebutted. If he's non-religious, well the progressive crowd says you're wrong. If he's religious, well those guys in the funny fur hats know more about Judaism that you. So you're wrong and therefore its your own fault for practising a Judaism that encourages people to hate you!