It was a classic meeting of titans of opposing views. Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump. The ultimate capitalist with the ultimate socialist. The meeting went surprisingly well. Donald Trump was effusive in his praise of Mamdani. He said that he believes that Mamdani will make a great mayor. He said they both have the welfare of New York City in mind. And Mamdani was all smiles. Trump diffused what could have been an ugly encounter
In a Meet the Press interview following the Trump visit, the host asked Mamdani if he still thinks Donald Trump is a fascist and if he still believes Donal Trump is bad for America. He said I always did believe that and I always will. Some graciousness!
Around the same time, there was a mass demonstration outside Park East Synagogue, which was hosting a Nefesh B’Nefesh meeting encouraging aliyah to Israel. Demonstrators shouted all kinds of poisonous remarks, like “Intifada, Intifada, you make me proud, time to take a settler out.” Or the usual “We don’t want no Zionists” or “Jews go back to Poland!”
Mamdani’s reaction? I don’t approve of that kind of rhetoric, but a house of worship should not use its sacred spaces in violation of international law.”
Absolutely a disgraceful remark. As though encouraging aliyah was against international law.
We are getting our first taste of the incoming mayor, and it is a very bitter pill to swallow.
His appointments to the Department of Education are supposedly horrible, including Jamaal Bowman, the ousted congressman from Westchester who was a vile critic of Israel, as school chancellor. I have not seen this confirmed, but unfortunately it is very plausible.
Linda Sarsour – that implacable enemy of Israel – got a new wind with the Mamdani win. And she proclaimed that being against the Zionist state is now proven to being a winning formula for winning elections. She just may be on to something.
So we have now seen Mamdani in his earliest stages of ruling New York City. We Jews have our work cut out for us.
Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld is the Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, President of the Coalition for Jewish Values, former President of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, and the Rabbinic Consultant for the Queens Jewish Link.