Gila Isaacson
JFeed, June 10, 2025
“For some Jewish voters, Mamdani’s criticism of Israel, including his support for the “Not on Our Dime” bill to prohibit nonprofits from funding Israeli settlement activity, is less a dealbreaker than a point of debate.”
In the bustling, diverse landscape of New York City’s 2025 mayoral race, Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist and New York State Assembly member from Queens, has emerged as a strong mayoral candidate.
Known for his unapologetic criticism of Israel, support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and advocacy for Palestinian rights, Mamdani might seem an unlikely candidate to garner support among Jewish voters in a city with one of the largest Jewish populations in the world.
Yet, despite his stances on Israel, a notable segment of Jewish New Yorkers, particularly younger, progressive, and Reform Jews, are rallying behind him, drawn to his vision for affordability, social justice, and a city that works for the working class.
Mamdani’s rise in the polls, where he holds a strong second place behind former Governor Andrew Cuomo, has been nothing short of meteoric. From just 1% support in February 2025 to 23% by May, his campaign has resonated with a broad coalition, including young voters, South Asian and Muslim communities, and, surprisingly, a portion of Jewish Democrats. ….SOURCE