Following the Democratic voters of New York City's decision to place their mayoral hopes on the "democratic socialist" (communist) Zohran Mamdani, the Big Apple's Jewish community, always a substantial part of the city's life, is growing nervous. Their discomfiture is not without reason.
Concerns over antisemitism continue to grow in New York City, as some residents say they’re beginning to question whether the nation’s largest city is a safe place for them. One social media star says Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the Democratic mayoral primary only escalated those fears in the Jewish community.
"We're very afraid," said Ben Soffer, a social media influencer and entrepreneur. "I've never, ever thought that I would need to leave because I was afraid to be openly Jewish here."
Afraid to be openly Jewish in New York City. That's a gobsmacking notion, isn't it? New York's Jewish community has always been a large part of the city's life, its culture, and, of course, its economy. And the candidate Mamdani's background of antisemitic statements is troubling, to say the least.
Soffer, who has lived in New York City his entire life, said he considered moving over rising antisemitism in the area. He noted his primary concern now is Zohran Mamdani potentially becoming the city’s next mayor.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman from Queens, is a self-described socialist who beat former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary. Since his election upset, Mamdani has faced pressure to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada," a slogan widely understood to carry anti-Jewish undertones.
Undertones, my foot. The word "intifada" is defined as:
An armed uprising of Palestinians against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip
Globalizing that can only be seen as a call for a global armed uprising against Jews. There's really no other way to interpret it.
See Also: Zohran Mamdani's Independence Day Post Is Everything Wrong With His Candidacy
Whoops: Mamdani Gets Nailed by His Own Words When Asked About Racial Identity in Prior Interview
Mamdani's attempts to soft-soap the issue are, shall we say, less than convincing:
Mamdani was asked on NBC’s "Meet the Press" whether he condemns the controversial phrase on Sunday. He responded by saying that it’s not language he personally uses, but did not issue a clear condemnation.
"It is language, I understand, there are concerns about," said Mamdani. "What I will do is showcase my vision for the city through my words and my actions."
That is the pure buncombe, political double-speak of the first water, and New York Jews now have more reason than ever to be alarmed. When a pol, at any level, starts spreading it this thick, you know he's not telling the truth.
Fortunately for New Yorkers, Jews and otherwise, since winning the primary, Zohran Mamdani seems to have lurched from gaffe to screwup to foot-in-mouth moment. That's all to the good, but New York's chances of dodging this communist bullet would be better if the opposition would coalesce; the AOC caucus will support the commie Mamdani, while as it stands, the rational vote (such as it is, in New York City) will be split between Republican Curtis Sliwa and independents Eric Adams, the incumbent, and former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
It's not all that often you get to see a major city vote to self-destruct, but if the city of New York votes the commie Mamdani in as mayor, that's what they'll be doing. It won't just be New York's Jewish population who will feel the effect of the city getting the government it voted for, good and hard.
Editor's Note: The Democrat Party has never been less popular as voters reject its globalist agenda.
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