Zohran Mamdani’s historic run will also help free Jews, and U.S. politics, from Zionism

Zohran Mamdani’s Historic Campaign Challenges Zionism

Zohran Mamdani’s groundbreaking campaign for New York mayor represents a pivotal moment for Jewish identity in the United States. As more Jews question the link between Judaism and Zionism, his candidacy ignites a generational debate with serious implications for American politics.

Surveys indicate that nearly two-thirds of young Jewish voters plan to support Mamdani, while about 43 percent of the broader Jewish population also backs him. Many of these voters accept, and even applaud, his solidarity with Palestinians.

Defying Political Boundaries

Mamdani openly supports the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. He has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and has stated that he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes if he ever visited New York.

Support and Backlash

Jewish Voice for Peace hailed Mamdani’s campaign as a fight “for the humanity, dignity, and freedom of all people — from NYC to Palestine.”

This group, long marginalized and often silenced under donor pressure, now finds new visibility in the wake of Mamdani’s candidacy. Yet opposition is fierce: over a thousand rabbis have united against him, accusing the assemblyman of fueling antisemitism.

Author’s Summary

Mamdani’s mayoral bid reshapes American Jewish identity, reflecting a growing divide over Zionism and challenging old political taboos.

more

Mondoweiss Mondoweiss — 2025-11-01

More News