Open Letter From American Rabbis addressing antisemitism and pro-Israel advocacy in the Jewish community.
We are rabbis and cantors from across the United States. We serve different communities, hold different political views, and do not speak with one voice on every question concerning Israel, American politics or the war in Gaza. But we are united in our belief that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s recent speech about pro-Israel civic participation is dangerous, unacceptable and beneath the office he holds.
On June 18, Mr. Mamdani described AIPAC as “monsters,” accusing it of moving “millions in dark money” to “preserve their power” and “turn us against one another.” Using the language of “monsters” against political opponents is an act of dehumanization, and when the targets of that dehumanization are overwhelmingly associated with the Jewish community the consequences become especially dangerous.
History demonstrates that campaigns against Jews often begin with rhetoric portraying them as uniquely sinister, uniquely powerful and somehow less deserving of equal treatment. Mr. Mamdani’s words invoke a familiar story about Jewish power, Jewish money and Jewish manipulation of public life. After criticism, Mr. Mamdani doubled down on the remarks.
Mr. Mamdani’s words matter because they were spoken by the leader of the city with the largest Jewish population outside Israel. They matter because antisemitism in America is rising. They matter because from Boulder, Colorado to Washington, D.C., we have seen how anti-Israel demonization can lead to political violence. These comments came mere days after five individuals were charged for plotting to kill AIPAC supported government officials according to a FBI criminal complaint, and the same day that a man in Florida was indicted for planning to target an AIPAC office in a mass shooting. By casting pro-Israel civic participation as monstrous, conspiratorial and anti-democratic, Mr. Mamdani has put a target on the backs of American Jews and their allies.
Some Jewish allies of Mr. Mamdani denounced his language, while leaders of the largest Jewish membership organizations expressed alarm. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, posted that “This is the kind of bigoted conspiracy mongering that you expect from unhinged streamers or white supremacists. It’s not the language that we should expect from the mayor whose jurisdiction suffers from the highest levels of antisemitism of any city in America.” Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, commented that “when you call people monsters, you’re not debating ideas, you’re dehumanizing the people you disagree with. And when that comes from a mayor, it creates an environment where people…wonder whether they can safely live and speak as themselves.” We agree.
The concern raised by these remarks is not confined to a single speech. Many Jewish Americans have watched a pattern emerge in which Israel, Zionists and pro-Israel Jews are repeatedly singled out for uniquely hostile treatment. Criticism of Israeli policy is legitimate, but obsession, demonization and dehumanization are not. The line between criticism and prejudice is crossed when Jews are treated as uniquely malevolent, powerful or undeserving of the civic respect afforded to every other community.
These remarks are part of a broader trend. Mr. Mamdani is the country’s most prominent Democratic Socialist of America (DSA)-affiliated officeholder. He made the remarks at a rally for congressional candidates, including two endorsed by NYC-DSA. In the same week a DSA-endorsed candidate won the Democratic primary for mayor of Washington, D.C., virtually ensuring that she will win the general election. Democratic-socialist and DSA-backed candidates are now competing for and winning offices in major cities throughout the country. When Mayor Mamdani speaks, he is not speaking only for himself. He serves as a model for a growing political movement whose rhetoric and priorities are increasingly being emulated nationwide.
The fixation on AIPAC reveals a glaring double standard. American politics is awash in outside spending from unions, corporations, ideological super PACs, environmental groups, business associations, trial lawyers, crypto interests and countless other organized constituencies. AIPAC is not the largest spender in American politics, nor is it unique in seeking to influence public policy. Anyone may argue for campaign-finance reform. But when the outrage is reserved for pro-Israel advocacy, and when that advocacy is described with language of hidden money, secret control and sinister power, it gives the appearance of antisemitism. Worse, it places Jews in danger. Many Jews reasonably hear echoes of longstanding antisemitic tropes.
Our communities include Jews with a wide range of views on Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu, the conduct of the war in Gaza, Palestinian statehood and American foreign policy. Vigorous debate is part of Jewish life. But anti-Zionism is not mere criticism of Israeli policy. In its plain meaning, anti-Zionism denies the right of Israel to exist as the Jewish state. It calls for the elimination of the one sovereign refuge of the Jewish people. Conflating policy criticism with anti-Zionism is a slight of hand meant to make the destruction of that refuge seem enlightened.
Surveys show that the overwhelming majority of American Jews believe Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish homeland. Jews may disagree about Israeli governments, military actions, settlements, borders or peace negotiations. But when public figures treat “Zionists” as a uniquely suspect category of people, they are speaking about the overwhelming majority of the Jewish community. Demonizing Zionists is not perceived by most Jews as criticism of a foreign government; it is experienced as an attack on a core component of Jewish identity and peoplehood.
A recent Jewish Majority poll found that 82% of New York Jewish voters are concerned about rising antisemitism, and that most connect it to the normalization of anti-Zionism. Whether one agrees with that assessment or not, responsible leaders have an obligation to listen when an overwhelming majority of a minority community says it feels threatened. This is the lived reality of Jewish communities who are watching old hatreds return in new language.
Mayor Mamdani should apologize. He should retract his remarks and affirm clearly that Jews and pro-Israel Americans are full participants in our democracy.
We can debate policy. We can argue about money in politics. We can disagree passionately about Israel and the Middle East. But no elected leader should demonize Jews or those who stand with the Jewish state. Criticizing Israeli policy is not antisemitic. Treating millions of Zionist Jews as morally suspect, politically illegitimate or less deserving of equal participation in public life is.
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