More than 600 rabbis from across the United States have signed a joint statement supporting former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo while denouncing New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for his refusal to condemn anti-Zionist slogans and his criticism of Israel. The signatories, representing a broad range of Jewish denominations, framed their appeal as a defense of Jewish identity and a call to confront the normalization of anti-Zionism in public life.
The rabbis warned that rhetoric denying Israel’s legitimacy or accusing the Jewish state of genocide “delegitimizes the Jewish community and encourages and exacerbates hostility toward Judaism and Jews,” quoting Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, president of the New York Board of Rabbis.
Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of New York’s Park Avenue Synagogue emphasized that “Zionism, Israel, Jewish self-determination—these are not political preferences or partisan talking points. They are constituent building blocks and inseparable strands of my Jewish identity.” He added that asking Jews to separate their faith from their support for Israel was “nonsensical and offensive.”
The rabbis urged Americans to support candidates who affirm Israel’s right to exist in peace and security and to reject those who promote divisive or antisemitic language. They also called on interfaith and community partners to stand with the Jewish people in ensuring safety, dignity, and inclusion for all.
The statement concludes with a collective appeal for unity, asserting that the defense of Jewish identity and self-determination transcends political affiliation.
Check here to see the full list of signatories: jewishmajority.org/a-rabbinic-call-to-action
