After Mamdani win, rabbis call on New York Jews to move to Israel

Rabbinic group issues open letter to Jewish residents of New York City, urging them to immigrate to Israel after Zohran Mamdani’s victory.

By World Israel News Staff 

A group of Orthodox rabbis dedicated to religious outreach is calling on the Jewish residents of New York City to immigrate to Israel after Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani — a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and a co-founder of the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at Bowdoin College in Maine — won the mayoral election.

On Wednesday, hours after news networks announced that Mamdani had clinched the election, the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization issued an open letter to New York City’s Jewish community and Diaspora rabbis, calling for “renewed reflection on strengthening ties with Israel” and “giving deeper meaning to Jewish identity in light of the growing antisemitic discourse” in the city that is home to the world’s largest Jewish community.

“The election results require all of us to take stock,” the rabbis wrote in the letter. “We cannot stand idly by while hatred of Jews continues to grow, while Jews fear displaying Jewish symbols or wearing a kippah in public.”

In a statement Wednesday, Tzohar emphasized that it was not advising American Jews to “flee out of fear” but was instead issuing a call for deep introspection and for strengthening Jewish ties to the State of Israel.

“Today we see clear signs that this path must lead us, as one united people, to return home—to the Land of Israel,” the rabbis continued.

“Only here, in the State of Israel, can we guarantee for ourselves and our children a future in which we can be proud and complete Jews—both at home and in the public sphere—and take an active part in the renewed building of the Jewish state, which is both the miracle and the destiny of our generation.”

Tzohar added that alongside the call to return home, the organization places “great importance on strengthening and deepening” the bond with American Jewry.

“It is the duty of the State of Israel and of the Jewish people in Israel to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers in the Diaspora, to strengthen them and assist them in their steadfast stand against manifestations of hatred and antisemitism. Tzohar will do all it can to be part of this mission.

“This is the time to strengthen our unity as one people, for the connection between all Jews in the world is stronger than any distance. Our hands and hearts are open to our brothers in the Diaspora.”