Latest news with #NewYorkBoardofRabbis
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zohran Mamdani ripped for refusing to recognize Israel as Jewish state: ‘Dangerous point of view'
Jewish leaders condemned Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani Thursday for his repeated refusals to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state — slamming it as a disqualifying and 'dangerous' point of view. 'It's more than problematic,' said Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis. 'Jews see this as a dividing line. 'There are 22 Arab Muslim states,' Potasnik noted. 'In Mamdani's world, there isn't room for one Jewish state. He doesn't want a Jewish State.' Mamdani, a pro-Palestinian state Assembly member from Queens who has supported the BDS movement to boycott Israel, has repeatedly been dogged by the issue as he campaigns for the Democratic mayoral nomination. During Wednesday night's NBC 4 NY-Politico primary debate, Mamdani hedged and again refused to answer the question. 'I believe Israel has a right to exist,' he said. 'As a Jewish state?' the moderator pressed. 'As a state with equal rights,' Mamdani replied. But when Mamdani was asked to clarify during a Thursday morning interview on Fox 5's 'Good Day New York,' he said he opposes Israel's right to exist — as a Jewish state. 'Because I'm not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion or anything else,' he told anchor Rosanna Scotto. 'In the way we have in this country, equality should be enshrined in every country in the world.' Fellow Queens Assembly member Nily Rozic, who was born in Israel, said, 'He doesn't recognize the Jewish state and its right to exist — a method of dehumanizing the Jewish people and a way to sow unnecessary divisions in society.' She added: 'That's a dangerous point of view for any elected official, let alone one who aspires to be mayor.' Brooklyn Assemblyman Kalman Yeger, who is also Jewish, said that Mamdani's refusal to acknowledge Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state was not all that surprising. 'Not at all shocking that the most prominent antisemite running this year can't bring himself to acknowledge the right of the Jewish state to exist. His hatred for Jews is boundless,' Yeger said. Democratic National Committee delegate from New York Robert Zimmerman, a pro-Israel Jew, said Mamdani's answer on 'Good Day' was chilling. 'Mamdani clearly disrespects the memory of the 6 million Jews lost in the Holocaust and further empowers those who engage in antisemitic rhetoric and violence,' Zimmerman told The Post. Like the Democratic Socialists of America that back him, Mamdani is a staunch foe of Israel and even supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against the Jewish state. Jewish civil rights groups such as the Anti-Defamation League said the BDS movement smacks of antisemitism because it seeks to harm the world's only Jewish State. Mamdani is running second in recent primary polls to ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo on Thursday was endorsed by the Far Rockaway Jewish Alliance, the largest Orthodox Jewish group in Queens — a sign that the more conservative ultra-orthodox Jewish communities will back his candidacy.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Zohran Mamdani's anti-Israel stance disqualifies him AND anyone who supports him
Zohran Mamdani couldn't even pretend he supports Israel's right to exist as actually Israel: Bad as everyone was on stage at the first Democratic mayoral debate, he disqualifies himself with that stance alone. And, incidentally, exposes anyone who endorses him as perfectly fine with promoting antisemitism. That includes not only Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who's tried to distance herself a tad from her most viscerally antisemitic Squad-mates but still endorsed Mamdani the day after the debate, but also state Sen. John Liu, who announced his support even as he insisted they disagreed on Israel. Sorry, John: When Jews are being gunned down in our nation's capital, and firebombed at a peaceful Boulder vigil, it's no time to set aside that difference. As for the debate, it was a mess of an event the Campaign Finance Board set up: Too many candidates onstage jockeying for time; too many moderators doing the same — producing an obsessive focus on 'differences' most voters don't care about. At least they got to the Gaza war near the end of the two-hour affair, with a discussion that led Mamdani to declare, 'I believe Israel has a right to exist' — but when the moderator prompted, 'As a Jewish state?' he replied merely, 'As a state with equal rights.' As others quickly pointed out, that's not Israel's right to exist at all. 'There are 22 Arab Muslim states. In Mamdani's world, there isn't room for one Jewish state. He doesn't want a Jewish State,' notes Joseph Potasnik of the New York Board of Rabbis. Mamdani's dodge comes as no surprise; he has proudly denounced the war against Hamas and his Democratic Socialists go even further, with one faction even cheering last month's Jew-targeting DC assassin. No, this isn't the only reason for New Yorkers to reject Mamdani's candidacy; his 'free stuff' agenda would devastate the city's housing stock and indeed its entire economy. But the Israel issue counts big: Mamdani wouldn't even put his name on an Assembly resolution denouncing the Holocaust. Early voting starts June 14; primary day is June 24: If you're a registered Democrat, make a point of supporting only your picks among the other candidates.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Zohran Mamdani ripped for refusing to recognize Israel as Jewish state: ‘Dangerous point of view'
Jewish leaders condemned Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani Thursday for his repeated refusals to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state — slamming it as a disqualifying and 'dangerous' point of view. 'It's more than problematic,' said Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis. 'Jews see this as a dividing line. 4 Political and community leaders speak at a press conference outside of Columbia University on Thursday morning in support of reinstating a mask ban in New York State as incidents of antisemitism rise. LP Media Advertisement 'There are 22 Arab Muslim states,' Potasnik noted. 'In Mamdani's world, there isn't room for one Jewish state. He doesn't want a Jewish State.' Mamdani, a pro-Palestinian state Assembly member from Queens who has supported the BDS movement to boycott Israel, has repeatedly been dogged by the issue as he campaigns for the Democratic mayoral nomination. During Wednesday night's NBC 4 NY-Politico primary debate, Mamdani hedged and again refused to answer the question. Advertisement 4 Mamdani has supported the BDS movement to boycott Israel. fox5ny 'I believe Israel has a right to exist,' he said. 'As a Jewish state?' the moderator pressed. 'As a state with equal rights,' Mamdani replied. Advertisement But when Mamdani was asked to clarify during a Thursday morning interview on Fox 5's 'Good Day New York,' he said he opposes Israel's right to exist — as a Jewish state. 'Because I'm not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion or anything else,' he told anchor Rosanna Scotto. 4 Rabbi Joseph Potasnik speaks next to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Rev. Al Sharpton and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at the Center for Jewish History in New York City, U.S., May 22, 2025. REUTERS 'In the way we have in this country, equality should be enshrined in every country in the world.' Advertisement Fellow Queens Assembly member Nily Rozic, who was born in Israel, said, 'He doesn't recognize the Jewish state and its right to exist — a method of dehumanizing the Jewish people and a way to sow unnecessary divisions in society.' She added: 'That's a dangerous point of view for any elected official, let alone one who aspires to be mayor.' Brooklyn Assemblyman Kalman Yeger, who is also Jewish, said that Mamdani's refusal to acknowledge Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state was not all that surprising. 'Not at all shocking that the most prominent antisemite running this year can't bring himself to acknowledge the right of the Jewish state to exist. His hatred for Jews is boundless,' Yeger said. Democratic National Committee delegate from New York Robert Zimmerman, a pro-Israel Jew, said Mamdani's answer on 'Good Day' was chilling. 'Mamdani clearly disrespects the memory of the 6 million Jews lost in the Holocaust and further empowers those who engage in antisemitic rhetoric and violence,' Zimmerman told The Post. Like the Democratic Socialists of America that back him, Mamdani is a staunch foe of Israel and even supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against the Jewish state. Advertisement 4 Rabbi Joseph Potasnik speaks during a meeting of New York spiritual leaders Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, at City Hall, denouncing the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. N.Y. POST: CHAD RACHMAN Jewish civil rights groups such as the Anti-Defamation League said the BDS movement smacks of antisemitism because it seeks to harm the world's only Jewish State. Mamdani is running second in recent primary polls to ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo on Thursday was endorsed by the Far Rockaway Jewish Alliance, the largest Orthodox Jewish group in Queens — a sign that the more conservative ultra-orthodox Jewish communities will back his candidacy.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NY clergy meets with Hochul, urging gov to keep NYC Mayor Eric Adams in office
Hizzoner has a prayer to stay in office. A group of top New York faith leaders met with Gov. Kathy Hochul Tuesday and urged her to have divine patience before deciding to remove embattled Mayor Eric Adams from office, The Post has learned. 'Clergy are concerned about an immediate and unthought-out response from anyone to the Eric Adams situation and appreciated the governor meeting with us to include different perspectives in her deliberation,' said Rev. AR Bernard, pastor of the Christian Cultural Center megachurch in Brooklyn. Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, who was also at the Tuesday meeting, said Adams deserves to be treated fairly. He said he still supports Adams, citing the embattled mayor's fullthroated support of the Jewish community in the wake of rising antisemitism set off by the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas' attacks in Israel and subsequent war in Gaza. 'Eric Adams has been a very important voice who has stood up for the Jewish community during an important time when others were silent,' Potasnik said. Both thanked Hochul for soliciting their input and categorized the meeting as productive. Adams has faced calls for his resignation and removal after the Trump Department of Justice moved to drop a federal corruption case against him until at least after the election in November. Critics have raised concerns that Adams would be beholden to Trump and his hardline immigration policy in a quid pro quo deal for dropping the case — though the mayor has denied any agreement. Four of his deputy mayors resigned in protest. Meanwhile, eight black legislators wrote Hochul, saying they see no reason to remove Adams. 'As black legislators we have seen this over and over again: double standards and an unfair process when it comes to our leaders,' said the legislators, including Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, an Adams ally and Brooklyn Democratic Party chairwoman. 'If a move is made against the mayor without a justifiable legal reason, our communities will not forget it,' the lawmakers said. Signatories included state Sens. Roxanne Persaud, Leroy Comrie, James Sanders and Assembly members Nikki Lucas, Alicia Hyndman, Clyde Vanel and Al Taylor. Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, also urged Hochul to back off Adams. He said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams — who accused Israel of committing 'genocide' in Gaza –would become the acting mayor if Adams is removed. 'Governor Hochul, I beseech you and plead with you not to make the greatest mistake of your political life in crowning Williams as Mayor of our city,' Hikind said. 'He represents a dangerous element not only for the Jewish community but for all law abiding citizens of New York. You, and only you, will be held responsible and New Yorkers will not forgive you…Let the people decide the future of New York in the upcoming elections.'
