An influential New York rabbi mentioned he schooled Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on peace in Gaza after his father’s synagogue was focused by a hateful mob of anti-Israel protesters.
Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of The Basis for Ethnic Understanding and the founding rabbi at The Hamptons Synagogue, mentioned he instructed Mamdani to his face that he’s “out of contact with the higher Muslim world” as leaders of the faith desire a two-state resolution.
“I mentioned to him, ‘Not solely are you out of contact with the Jewish group, you’re out of contact with the higher Muslim world,” Schneier mentioned Sunday on 77 WABC “The Cats Roundtable” radio program.
“You, Mr. Mayor-elect, you refused to acknowledge Israel’s proper to exist as a Jewish state,’” he claimed he instructed Mamdani throughout an interview with WABC’s John Catsimatidis. Mamdani is a practising Muslim.
Schneier mentioned he commonly speaks to Muslim leaders throughout the globe, together with in Saudi Arabia and Asia.
Mamdani has drawn criticism for supporting the boycott, divestment and sanctions marketing campaign towards Israel and his vow to arrest Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged struggle crimes in Gaza.
Schneier mentioned he would by no means “bifurcate” anti-Zionism and antisemitism.
“The demonization of Israel will solely result in assaults on Jews like we witnessed final week, notably while you use antisemitic tropes like genocide, occupation, and apartheid,” the rabbi mentioned.
“I challenged him… from a Muslim-Islamic perspective that he’s out of step with the higher Muslim world at the moment that acknowledges the Jewish State of Israel. He must get on the peace prepare earlier than it’s too late,” Schneier mentioned.
He mentioned Mamdani is a product of his father, Columbia College professor Mahmood Mamdani, who has spewed anti-Israel rhetoric and lectures on colonialism.
However the rabbi appreciated Mamdani for contacting him and backing his concept for laws to ban protests in entrance of homes of worship after the troubling mob demonstration at Park East Synagogue in Manhattan.
Schneier’s father, Arthur Schneier, was mobbed by anti-Israel protesters who chanted “globalize the intifada” and sinisterly allegedly urged the “resistance” to “take one other settler out.”
Some 200 demonstrators had gathered outdoors the historic synagogue and heckled Jews attending an occasion by Nefesh B’nefesh, a Zionist group that helps Jews immigrate to Israel — together with in disputed territories such because the West Financial institution.
The NYPD was placed on blast for failing to correctly patrol the protest, with demonstrators allowed to method the doorway of the synagogue. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch personally addressed the synagogue to apologize.
Schneier mentioned he additionally confronted Mamdani, who’s now a state Assemblyman, on laws to dam protests in entrance of homes of worship.
“‘Why don’t you sponsor laws that will now not allow any protests, any demonstrations in entrance of a home of worship in New York Metropolis – whether or not a synagogue, a church or a mosque?,” Schneier mentioned he requested Mamdani.
“He stored saying, `Rabbi, I like that concept … You will have my quantity. Let’s proceed this dialog. Let’s work on this laws,’” the rabbi claimed.
He mentioned he’s heartened that Mamdani has contacted him a number of instances since that preliminary name and that they’ll have a civil dialog and “conform to disagree.”
A rep from the Mamdani transition repeated an announcement saying the mayor-elect was fascinated with listening to extra about Schneier’s pitch on proscribing protests in entrance of homes of worship.
