I fear that Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of Central Synagogue in Manhattan has wilted under intense pressure from what might be called the leadership of the official Jewish community, and by doing so in her Shabbat sermon Friday night, has strengthened the forces in the Jewish community insisting on delivering a herem (writ of no cooperation) against likely NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani. In the process splitting the Jewish community into two mutually exclusive sections.

In her remarks, Buchdahl affirmed the wrong-headed premise that anti-Zionism=anti-Semitism, and, contributed to fear-mongering by stating that “I fear living in a city, and a nation, where anti-Zionist rhetoric is normalized and contagious,” and affirming flatly without evidence that “Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has contributed to a mainstreaming of some of the most abhorrent antisemitism.”

Buchdahl then wrung her hands, stating, “It endangers all of us: the way we are trying to impose a litmus test on other Jews, essentially saying you’re either with us or you’re against us,” she said. “Pitting Jew against Jew. Rabbi against rabbi.” Unfortunately, though, Buchdahl, by her own words, had just powerfully contributed to that exact outcome, in which the two sides will no longer be able co-exist under the Jewish tent. It seemed evident from her remarks as to which side Buchdahl will choose in that eventuality.

Yes, Mamdani is undoubtedly an anti-Zionist, and some of what he has said makes me uneasy. I agree that Netanyahu has committed multiple crimes against humanity in his ruthless and remorseless slaughter of some 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, but given the complex social dynamics in NYC, there was no need for him to stress repeatedly that he would have Bibi arrested if and when Bibi comes to New York. That is especially the case given that the Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who Mamdani has vowed to keep is from New York's most powerful Jewish and pro-Israel family.

But the strong likelihood is that Mamdani is about to be elected mayor, which raises the question of whether it is sustainable for the official Jewish community to declare a policy of "no cooperation" with him. Mamdani has promised to fight hard against manifestations of anti-Semitism and instead of raining moral imprecations on his head, the Jewish community ought to work with him in order to keep Jews safe. The progressive end of the Jewish community is ready to do just that but is being effectively read out of the community for being ready to work with Mamdani on issues of public safety, housing, schools and everything else that touches living in NYC, while agreeing to disagree respectfully on issues related to Israel and Zionism, issues over which, of course, a mayor of New York, has close to zero influence in resolving.

The official Jewish community needs to grapple much more profoundly than it has so far with the harsh truth that Israel's merciless killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians--even deliberately starving them to death---has turned most Americans against Israel--including people of conscience who believe in democracy and human rights. To attribute all or most of that to anti-Semitism is completely bogus and an insult to the millions of Americans of all backgrounds (including many young Jews) who have been repulsed by Israel's abhorrent behavior, which was triggered by, but cannot be justified by, Hamas' murderous attack on October 7. The exploitation and weaponization of anti-Semitism has, of course played directly into Trump's chilling attacks on freedom of speech on campuses and beyond.

That raises an existential question" Who is the greater threat to American Jews and to the values of democracy, diversity, free speech and freedom of religion that have allowed our community to thrive on these shores since George Washington's welcoming words to the Jews of Newport Rhode Island in 1791? Is our most fearful nemesis named Zohran Mamdani or Donald Trump? Rabbi Buchdahl, do you honestly believe that Mamdani is the greater danger to the Jews and to America? If not, it's high time to speak truth to real, not imaginary power, before it's too late for salvage a sustainable life for Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and other minority faith communities in a neo-fascist America permeated in the hateful theology of White Christian nationalism. Angela Buchdahl, prominent NYC rabbi, ratchets up criticism of Mamdani — and cautions against Jewish infighting - Jewish Telegraphic Agency