Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch accused New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani of "fanning the flames of intolerance" ahead of Election Day. (Shahar Azran)
"He should condemn it. It's not simply a question of [whether] he doesn't encourage its use," Hirsch said.
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"I want to make a distinction. That is different from saying, 'I believe that the Palestinians deserve a state, and this state should live side-by-side in peace with Israel.' That's not what the 'globalize the intifada' group mean. They mean ‘destroy Israel,’ and that has to be condemned by every responsible political and moral authority," Hirsch said.
Hirsch was clear that criticizing the Israeli government — as many Americans have since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waged war in Gaza following Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel — is not antisemitic.
"But that's not Zoran Mamdani's approach, and it's not the approach of his allies," Hirsch said. "He has been opposed to the existence of Israel as a Jewish state from childhood, and that is a fundamental distinction and is very dangerous."
Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue urged New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada." (Shahar Azran)
Ahead of Election Day, New York City rabbis joined more than 650 rabbis nationwide to sign "A Rabbinic Call to Action: Defending the Jewish Future," affirming that Jewish Americans "cannot remain silent" on discrimination against Jewish people and citing Mamdani's anti-Israel stances.
As Mamdani gears up to lead City Hall next year, he recently met with a group of Jewish leaders in New York City, including rabbis, like Hirsch, who expressed concerns about his candidacy. New York City is home to the largest diaspora of Jews outside of Israel.
"My primary concern, and what I would love to be able to impress on the mayor-elect, is even if you don't wake up tomorrow, and you've been convinced, and you become a Zionist, understand that rhetoric leads to action, words lead to deeds, and anti-Zionism is a hateful ideology, and it leads to hateful acts against Jews, no matter how many cops you put outside Jewish institutions. That's the key thing," Hirsch said.
Hirsch told Fox News Digital that he appreciated Mamdani's willingness to meet with Jewish leaders, even those who "largely disagree with him."
"He made an effort to come out and reach out to people and not only us, but other members of the Jewish community, and I think that is constructive, and that's to be welcomed," Hirsch said.
New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani answers reporter questions during a press conference in New York City on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Heather Khalifa/AP Photo)
But the senior rabbi said the rest is up to Mamdani. "It's your choice," Hirsch said, addressing the mayor-elect directly.
"I just hope for the sake, not only for the sake of the Jewish community, but for the New York City that we all love, that mayor-elect Mamdani will speak judiciously in this respect when it comes to his past animosity towards the very existence of Israel," Hirsch added, while urging him to "refrain from policies that will fan the flames of hostility in the city and exacerbate what is already now a very tense environment and a very vulnerable American and New York Jewish community."
While Hirsch encouraged Mamdani this week to reconsider his positions on Israel, the mayor-elect quickly released an outright condemnation of the Bondi Beach attack Sunday morning.
"The attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney today was a vile act of antisemitic terror. I mourn those who were murdered and will be keeping their families, the Jewish community, and the Chabad movement in my prayers," Mamdani said in a statement.
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"When I am Mayor, I will work every day to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe—on our streets, our subways, at shul, in every moment of every day. Let this be a purpose shared by every New Yorker, and let us banish this horrific violence to the past," the mayor-elect added.
Mamdani's transition team did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's comment request.
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nyc-rabbi-urges-mayor-elect-mamdani-condemn-globalize-intifada-phrase-wake-sydney-attack