Mamdani reaches out to Orthodox rabbi, is told he’s ‘out of touch’ with Muslim leaders

Rabbi Schneier also told Mr. Mamdani that he would like to introduce the Mayor-elect to several leaders in the Muslim world who have forged peace with Israel and who are preparing to do so.

By Joseph Wolkin

On Friday, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani called Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, the first mainstream Jewish leader that the Mayor-elect has spoken with since his victory.

Mr. Mamdani called Rabbi Schneier, the leader in Muslim-Jewish relations, as he was on his way to meet with President Donald Trump.

Mr. Mamdani’s outreach to Rabbi Schneier came after an antisemitic protest outside Park East Synagogue, led by Rabbi Schneier’s father, Rabbi Arthur Schneier.

In a New York Times interview on Monday, Rabbi Schneier detailed the conversation and said he suggested that the mayor-elect support legislation that would bar demonstrations directly outside houses of worship.

“He told me, ‘Rabbi, I love the idea and I can’t thank you enough,” Rabbi Schneier recalled.

Mr. Mamdani’s spokesperson Dora Pekec also confirmed to The Times that he is interested in Rabbi Schneier’s legislation idea.

Rabbi Schneier also told Mr. Mamdani that he would like to introduce the Mayor-elect to several leaders in the Muslim world who have forged peace with Israel and who are preparing to do so.

He told the Mayor-elect that he is “out of touch with Muslim leadership across the world,” and that private meetings arranged by Rabbi Schneier could help him better understand Israel, anti-Zionist rhetoric, and the impact such rhetoric has on Jewish communities, such as New York City, the largest Jewish community outside of Israel.

A global leader in interfaith diplomacy, Rabbi Schneier has fostered peace and dialogue across Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.