Jewish New Yorkers Defend Zohran Mamdani Against 'Racist and Islamophobic' ADL Tracking

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A coalition of Jewish organizations in New York has signed a letter criticizing the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a pro-Israel group, for creating the "Mamdani Monitor." The coalition describes it as a "blatantly Islamophobic" act targeting mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

"NYC Jewish communities repudiate the ADL's blatant Islamophobia: You won't divide us from our neighbors. We congratulate mayor-elect Zohran K. Mamdani on his election and applaud his vision for 'a New York City that is free from hate violence.'"

This quote is from the letter issued by the coalition criticizing the ADL this week, stating that the 'Mamdani Monitor' is considered to undermine the joint struggle against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in New York City, as reported by Middle East Eye.

The ADL group announced the preparation for citywide tip line to report anti-Semitic incidents in New York City. According to the group, these information channels will serve as a “hyper-focused resource for New Yorkers to report antisemitic incidents in the city, including on the streets, in schools, in their workplace.”

This action was announced by the ADL shortly after Mamdani's electoral victory. They announced their intention to track and monitor the policies and appointments of the first Muslim mayor of New York, which they believe could impact the safety and security of the Jewish community.

Coalition Against Hate

The coalition is committed to working with Mamdani and rejects ADL's claims that they represent all Jewish religious people.

"Regardless of how we voted or what our views are on Israel and Palestine, we stand firmly against the Islamophobic and racist attacks from the institutions claiming to represent our communities. Together, we can help build a city grounded in justice, dignity, and care for every New Yorkerhbj67."

At the time of writing, the signatories consist of IfNotNow; IfNotNow NYC; Bend the Arc: Jewish Action; New York Jewish Agenda; J Street NYC; Jews for Racial & Economic Justice; T'ruah: Rabbinic Call for Human Rights; Malkhut; Partners for Progressive Israel; Rabbis for Gun-Free Schools; Temenos Arts Center; American Jewish Council; and Workers Circle: Jewish Culture for a Just World.

Bend the Arc: Jewish Action also started a petition titled, "American Jews reject the ADL’s racist “Mamdani Monitor."

"We reject false accusations of antisemitism against Black, brown, and Muslim progressive champions who are fighting for a country where all of us can thrive," the group wrote in the petition. 

“Zohran Mamdani has worked and prayed alongside Jewish New Yorkers, made major policy commitments to Jewish safety, and promised to protect, celebrate, and cherish our community”.

Criticism of the ADL

In a statement last week, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said, "Mayor-Elect Mamdani has promoted antisemitic narratives, associated with individuals who have a history of antisemitism, and demonstrated intense animosity toward the Jewish state that is counter to the views of the overwhelming majority of Jewish New Yorkers."

Greenblatt added that these "individuals and principles" can influence his government.

Pro-Palestinian groups have long criticized the ADL for portraying the Palestinian rights movement and anti-Zionism as anti-Semitism, and for equating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.

The organization has also previously collaborated with US law enforcement to spy on and target Arab-American groups, as well as facilitate and fund training trips for US police to Israel.

Former Human Rights Watch chief Kenneth Roth called the social media move an "awful scaremongering from an organization that pretends to fight racism in all forms but really defends Israel”.

“Why does Mamdani need special monitoring? Because he is Muslim? Because he criticizes Israel for such things as its genocide?” Roth wrote.

After the tracking faced backlash, Greenblatt then released a video defending the tracking, stating that the video would also share positive news "if the new administration does great things to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe and to make them feel welcome".

Divided Jewish Groups

As a newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani holds a divisive position within Jewish communities.

Mamdani has criticized Israel for its occupation in Palestine and the genocide in war-ravaged Gaza, where over 69,000 Palestinian civilians were killed.

He also said he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, per the International Criminal Court warrant, if he visits New York, but then retracted the claim.

Mamdani's campaign team includes Jewish members in key positions. He reached out and visited Jewish communities during his campaign and gained support from some Jewish groups and a prominent Orthodox rabbi.

In his campaign speeches, he vowed to combat anti-Semitism.

According to Ynet News, last year's Pew Research Center poll found that only half of American Jews under the age of 35 say Israel's conduct in the war is acceptable, while 68 percent of Jews over 50 say it is acceptable.

Similar to these findings, in New York, about a third of Jewish voters in the election supported Mamdani, exit polls show, prompting a victory that worries his Jewish opponents, who are not used to backing losing candidates.

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