Mayor Zohran Mamdani met Monday at City Hall with a group of Orthodox Jewish leaders for a 45-minute roundtable focused on public safety, antisemitism, and key community needs.
According to Phylisa Wisdom, head of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, the discussion included affordable housing, childcare, and ongoing efforts to address rising antisemitism across New York City.
“The mayor emphasized that he will continue to build strong, meaningful relationships with the broad, diverse Orthodox community of our city,” Wisdom said in a statement.
The meeting was organized by Moshe Indig following Mamdani’s election victory. In a social media post, Indig thanked the mayor for hosting what he described as the administration’s first Jewish leadership roundtable at City Hall, noting that the conversation centered on public safety and pressing community priorities.
Among those in attendance were Crown Heights representatives Chanina Sperlin and Yaacov Behrman, along with Moshe Indig of the Satmar Ahronim community; David Niederman of Satmar Zalonym; Joel Rosenfeld of Bobov; Ben Barber of Bobov-45; Yeruchim Silber of Agudath Israel of America; Josh Mehlman of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition; Baruch Rothman of Yeshiva Darchei Torah; and a representative of Khal Adas Yereim Vien of Borough Park.
The meeting follows Mamdani’s recent visit to Crown Heights in the aftermath of the car-ramming incident, where he met with community members and leaders on the ground, underscoring his administration’s focus on addressing safety concerns and standing with the Jewish community during times of crisis.
At the same time, some leaders from the broader Modern Orthodox community expressed frustration over not being included, or chose not to attend. Critics pointed to Mamdani’s past positions on Israel, as well as controversy surrounding remarks made following the October 7 attacks and recently resurfaced social media activity attributed to his wife.
The meeting comes as city officials and Jewish organizations continue to address growing concerns surrounding antisemitism and security in Jewish neighborhoods across New York.
Mamdani has been very clear from the get-go about what his positions are. Also, it was just revealed that his wife posted disgusting and vile comments after 07 October, which he simply dismissed as being the comments of a private person. How shameful!
Those ‘askanim’ who met with him should really be ashamed of themselves, to give him any kind of legitimacy and acceptance. Bunch of Uncle Toms.
He is the mayor whether you like it or not. And he is the one that “Al Pi Teva” provides the NYP patrol
So Al pi tevah..
Should Jews have had dinner with Isabelle and Ferdinand, since if we denounced our people hood then they would have happily accepted us too.
Do not talk to a Jew who supports Israel’s right to EXIST =BDS=what Mamdani screams for.
There’s literally no choice buy to deal with him in a professional way and noone is there to be friends with him.
No elected representatives of our community? Only self-appointed “activists?” Must be an interesting story.
For now it’s the best we can do. He’s for now a mayor, and he can choose to protect the Jewish people and he needs to see the leaders. And see what the needs are.
This doesn’t mean we agree with his opinions on Israel which unfortunately are well known at this point.
לב מלכים ושרים ביד ה׳
What’s the chances anyone asked him about his wives social media history?
He just made new sickening comments at the Irish Parade today, about Israel committing genocide, using the word genocide, comparing what the Irish went through and the “weeping” of the Palestinians now. He is a piece of work, and his wife is just as bad. This whole meeting with askanim was just a photo op.
Wasn’t the Rebbe’s position that we respect/honor the seat but not necessarily the person?
But this is a delicate balance
He calls for BDS which is in its fine print not talking to any Jew who will not denounce Israel’s right to exist safely. He has supported people who want to MURDER all of us . And had cheered for them when they did. Askanim should be ashamed to normalize a man who encourages murder.
Another photo op with nothing to show for it. Same old same old.
Throughout Jewish history, Askanim and Rabbonim have met with some of the biggest Jew haters, attempting to better the situation of the local Yidden. The Abarbanel met with Ferdinand and Isabella multiple times and attempted to change their minds. Moshe attempted to change Parohs mind. The Maharal went to the Kaiser of Germany a few times. The Rabbeim went to high officials in the Russian government who were anti semites numerous times. Call me crazy but I don’t think Mamdani is worse than all the aforementioned, and all the public discourse just alienates him further and further, as the Rebbe… Read more »
One day after the above photo-op, Mayor Mamdani was busy bashing Israel and its genocide at a St Patrick Days event in which he tried to turn the Irish against Zionists in NYC.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani rips Palestinian ‘genocide’ at St. Patrick’s Day event