“The Nexus Project is deeply concerned by the divisive, hyperbolic and aggressive response that we are seeing from some corners of the Jewish community to the election of Zohran Mamdani as the next mayor of New York City. This unhelpful response does not reflect the true interests, values and concerns of American Jews, including Jewish New Yorkers, or of our community as a whole. It risks alienating important allies and partners in the struggle to uphold democracy and combat antisemitism – and that it is recklessly and unnecessarily stoking a sense of antagonism between Jewish Americans and the mayor of the city with the largest Jewish population in the world.
At a moment when Christian nationalists with ties to antisemitism occupy positions of power throughout the federal government, and when antisemitic incidents continue to rise across the country, our Jewish community must respond with principled leadership that brings people together rather than divides them, and which effectively confronts the genuine pressing threats to our democracy. Instead, we are sadly witnessing several legacy Jewish organizations and officials underestimating the severity of these threats and sometimes ignoring or excusing them, while instead responding to NYC’s election of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani with immediate and unwarranted hostility.
The approach taken by the Anti-Defamation League’s “Mamdani Monitor,” and by several other organizations, is dangerous and counterproductive. It is generating fear and mistrust by targeting New York City’s newly elected leadership with aggressive and confrontational tactics, instead of engaging them in good faith to represent and advance the interests of Jewish New Yorkers. Their approach feeds into misguided efforts like the Heritage Foundation’s Project Esther which purport to fight antisemitism while in fact undermining the spirit of democratic diversity and cross-communal partnership that helps American Jews to thrive.
Many in our community have serious concerns about some of the Mayor-elect’s views and positions. Many others have enthusiastically supported him. Regardless of partisanship or politics, we should treat his words of encouragement and commitment to Jewish safety with good faith, and seek to build on them to strengthen his relationship with our community and appreciation for our priorities and concerns.
The Nexus Project exists to confront and educate about antisemitism in all its forms, and to emphasize that upholding democracy, civil rights and constitutional freedoms is the best way to guarantee Jewish safety. This is a time for good faith and honesty about the real threats that our community faces, and how best to address them together with our fellow Americans. We invite all those who believe in this mission to join in our work.”