More than 700 rabbis across the United States have signed a letter demanding New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issue a public apology for controversial statements made about the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The religious leaders argue that Mamdani’s characterization of the pro-Israel lobbying organization as “monsters” constitutes dangerous dehumanization that places Jewish Americans and their supporters at risk. The controversy erupted following a June 18 rally held before New York City’s Democratic primary elections, where the mayor delivered remarks that have since drawn widespread criticism from Jewish community leaders and elected officials.
The rabbis who signed the letter represent congregations holding diverse perspectives on Israel, American politics, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Despite their varied viewpoints on Middle East policy, the religious leaders united in expressing concern that Mamdani’s rhetoric could fuel rising antisemitic sentiment. The letter emphasized that New York City, which hosts the largest Jewish population of any city outside Israel, requires leadership that protects rather than endangers its Jewish residents.
Mayor’s comments describe AIPAC as using dark money against democracy
During the rally, Mamdani told supporters that AIPAC represents “monsters” who deploy “millions in dark money to accomplish a single goal — to preserve their power, so that they can turn us against one another.” The statement came as part of broader criticism of political action committee spending in New York City elections. The mayor’s office has maintained that the comments targeted the organization’s political tactics rather than any religious or ethnic group. However, critics contend that the language used crosses a line from legitimate policy debate into territory that endangers community members.
The rabbis’ letter explicitly stated that Mamdani’s characterization “put a target on the backs of American Jews and their allies” by framing pro-Israel civic participation as conspiratorial and anti-democratic. The religious leaders described the remarks as “beneath the office he holds” and called attention to the timing, noting that antisemitism in America has been rising. The letter included signatures from dozens of New York City rabbis alongside hundreds more from religious leaders throughout the country.
Mamdani defends remarks by citing philosopher and Gaza situation
When questioned about the controversy during an executive order signing event, Mamdani defended his position by referencing the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The mayor stated that the conversation centers on “a status quo where children are being killed on a daily basis” and characterized AIPAC as an organization that supports this status quo while fighting attempts to deliver safety to people in Palestine and the broader region. He described the current situation as one of immorality that he refuses to accept.
Addressing criticism specifically about his use of the word “monsters,” Mamdani cited philosopher Antonio Gramsci, explaining that he employed the term to describe “all those who are preventing the birth of a new world.” The mayor clarified that his criticism extended beyond AIPAC to encompass super PACs in general, which he accused of spending millions of dollars on deceptive and misleading advertisements flooding the airwaves. His office pointed to these statements as evidence that the remarks targeted political spending practices rather than any particular community.
Jewish leaders and elected officials condemn mayor’s language
The criticism extended well beyond the group of rabbis who signed the letter. Representative Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey wrote that swapping “AIPAC” for “Jews” in Mamdani’s statement reveals “the oldest antisemitic conspiracy theory in the books.” The congressman emphasized that Mamdani was not simply criticizing a lobby but rather “laundering antisemitism” from his position as mayor of a city with more than one million Jewish residents.
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt characterized Mamdani’s remarks as “prejudice” that was “deliberate, dangerous and disgraceful.” Greenblatt compared the language to rhetoric typically associated with extremist online personalities or white supremacists, stating it represents inappropriate discourse for the mayor of a jurisdiction experiencing the highest levels of antisemitism of any American city. The ADL leader emphasized that such conspiracy-laden language from an elected official carries particular weight and danger.
- Over 700 rabbis signed letter demanding apology from Mayor Mamdani
- Mayor called AIPAC “monsters” using dark money during June 18 rally
- Religious leaders say remarks endanger Jewish Americans and allies
- Mamdani defended comments by citing Gaza situation and Gramsci quote
- Representative Gottheimer and ADL CEO condemned the language
Mayor’s office highlights hate crime prevention investments
In response to concerns about antisemitism, Mamdani’s office shared a statement from a May event where the mayor addressed security for Jewish New Yorkers. At that time, Mamdani acknowledged that Jewish residents have worked to cultivate a city that remains safe and open to all people. He stated that Jewish New Yorkers “should be accorded the same security and the same peace of mind” as all residents. The mayor announced that the city would invest 26 million dollars annually to expand hate crime prevention efforts, emphasizing that responding to antisemitism after incidents occur is insufficient and that deterrence must be prioritized.
Rabbis call for recognition of Jewish participation in democracy
The letter from the rabbis concluded with three specific requests: that the mayor apologize, retract his remarks, and make clear that Jews and pro-Israel Americans are full participants in American democracy. The religious leaders acknowledged that legitimate debate exists around policy, money in politics, and Middle East affairs. However, they drew a distinction between criticizing Israeli government policy and treating Zionist Jews as morally suspect, politically illegitimate, or less deserving of equal participation in public life. The rabbis emphasized that no elected leader should demonize Jews or those who support the Jewish state, noting that millions of American Jews hold Zionist beliefs as part of their identity and political engagement.
