Self-proclaimed socialist Zohran Mamdani previously refused to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state
| Published July 8, 2025
🔥 What Happened
In December 2024, Zohran Mamdani — a Democratic Socialist and New York City Council member representing Astoria, Queens — posted a Hanukkah video on social media that has since erupted into a scandal. The video, originally produced by the Geeta Brothers (a Canadian Punjabi comedy duo), shows two men dressed in traditional South Asian attire dancing energetically to a fusion of klezmer and bhangra music, surrounded by Jewish holiday symbols like menorahs and dreidels. Mamdani captioned the clip:
“Happy 3rd night of Hanukkah from Astoria and Long Island City.”
At first glance, the post may have seemed like an attempt at cross-cultural celebration — but the reaction from the Jewish community and concerned citizens was immediate and overwhelmingly negative. Advocacy group StopAntisemitism condemned the video, calling it “sick” and “a mockery of sacred Jewish traditions.” They further stated that “our holidays and our faith are not comedy material, especially not for politicians with known anti-Israel sympathies.”
What added fuel to the fire was the context behind Mamdani’s political history. He has long been a vocal critic of Israel, supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and has refused to acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state — positions that have alarmed Jewish leaders across the political spectrum. In 2022, Mamdani also promoted the radical slogan “Globalize the Intifada,” which many interpret as a call to escalate violent resistance against Israel.
So when he posted the Hanukkah parody video, many didn’t see humor or goodwill — they saw another calculated slight from a politician whose hostility toward Jewish identity and tradition is thinly veiled at best. Critics argue that Mamdani deliberately used humor and cultural appropriation as a weapon, cloaking disrespect in celebration to deflect accountability.
The incident is no longer just about a social media post. It has become a flashpoint in a broader discussion about antisemitism in progressive politics, the misuse of multiculturalism to disguise contempt, and whether someone with a record like Mamdani’s should ever be trusted with the leadership of New York City — home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.
🔥 Backlash & Criticism
The response to Zohran Mamdani’s Hanukkah parody video was swift, scathing, and widespread. Jewish advocacy groups, community leaders, and ordinary citizens condemned the video as more than just poor judgment — they called it a calculated insult to Jewish identity, culture, and faith.
🛑 “This is sick” – StopAntisemitism speaks out
One of the first to react was StopAntisemitism, a watchdog organization that tracks anti-Jewish rhetoric and hate worldwide. They posted a direct response:
“This is sick. Mamdani thought it would be funny to post a video mocking Hanukkah — a sacred Jewish holiday — using South Asian actors in costume and cartoonish dancing. Our holidays are not your content.”
They didn’t stop there. The group called out Mamdani’s longstanding pattern of inflammatory, anti-Israel, and anti-Jewish rhetoric, calling the video “not a one-off” but “part of a dangerous normalization of antisemitism within the far-left political movement.”
🕎 Religious leaders sound the alarm
Prominent rabbis from both Orthodox and Reform communities in New York issued statements expressing shock and outrage. One Brooklyn rabbi said:
“It’s one thing to be ignorant. It’s another to publicly mock Jewish tradition while running to lead a city with over a million Jewish residents. Mamdani’s message was loud and clear: our faith is a punchline to him.”
⚠️ Public reaction and political fallout
The public backlash wasn’t limited to religious institutions. Jewish New Yorkers took to social media in droves, expressing disgust that someone with such views is being considered for the city’s highest office. Some comments included:
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“Imagine the outrage if someone mocked Ramadan or Diwali like this.”
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“He knew exactly what he was doing. This wasn’t comedy — it was provocation.”
Conservative commentators called the post “a new low in identity-based contempt,” while even moderate voices questioned how Mamdani could claim to represent all New Yorkers while so openly offending one of its largest and oldest communities.
🧨 A pattern, not an isolated case
What makes this controversy especially explosive is Mamdani’s history of anti-Israel activism and language that borders on incitement. His support for the BDS movement, refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and past use of the phrase “Globalize the Intifada” have already raised red flags.
“This is not about free speech,” said one Jewish community organizer. “This is about a politician who has shown over and over again that he holds contempt for Jewish self-determination and Jewish dignity — and now, our holidays too.”
The backlash has already become a major issue in the NYC mayoral race. Mamdani’s opponents have seized on the scandal, demanding an apology and calling on voters to “reject hatred masquerading as humor.”
Resulting Effects:
The fallout from Zohran Mamdani’s offensive Hanukkah video has triggered serious consequences, both politically and socially, raising alarms about the normalization of antisemitism in public office and casting a long shadow over his mayoral campaign.
🗳️ 1. Growing Political Isolation
Mamdani may have secured the Democratic primary, but the backlash over the Hanukkah video has significantly weakened his standing among centrists, independents, and moderate Democrats — particularly those in New York’s large and influential Jewish community.
Some Democratic leaders have gone silent, refusing to defend him. Others are privately expressing concern that his candidacy could fracture the party’s coalition and hand an opening to Republican or independent challengers.
A Democratic strategist told The New York Post:
“This scandal is a ticking time bomb. If he doesn’t apologize and distance himself from this behavior, he’ll drag the whole party down with him.”
🕍 2. Erosion of Trust in Jewish Communities
The scandal has left many Jewish New Yorkers feeling betrayed and disrespected. It’s not just about one video — it’s about a pattern of behavior that has alienated a community already feeling under siege from rising antisemitism.
Community leaders say Mamdani has irreparably damaged his relationship with Jewish constituents, many of whom were already uneasy with his past rhetoric.
“You don’t get to mock our holidays and then expect our support,” one synagogue leader in Manhattan told reporters. “He has shown us who he is.”
📉 3. Decline in Public Confidence
Beyond the Jewish community, voters across the city are beginning to question Mamdani’s judgment and integrity.
What kind of leader posts something so divisive — and refuses to take accountability? His refusal (so far) to issue a genuine apology has fueled perceptions of arrogance and insincerity, and his brand of far-left activism is now under intense scrutiny.
Many fear that a Mamdani administration would be ideologically rigid, dismissive of minority concerns unless they align with his narrative, and reckless when handling sensitive cultural and religious matters.
🔥 4. Strengthening of Political Opposition
Mamdani’s opponents are wasting no time. Already, rival campaigns are launching ads and public statements highlighting his “sick joke” as proof he’s unfit to lead a city as diverse and complex as New York.
They are framing him as a radical ideologue who disrespects religious communities, someone who uses humor as a weapon to mask deep-seated prejudice.
If the outrage continues to gain traction, it could lead to high-profile endorsements swinging toward more moderate candidates in the general election — or even a viable third-party challenge.
⚠️ 5. A National Warning Sign
Finally, this scandal has implications that reach far beyond New York. It’s a wake-up call about the rise of mainstream political figures who engage in anti-Jewish rhetoric under the guise of “social justice.”
Jewish groups across the U.S. are watching closely. The question is no longer just about Mamdani — it’s about whether America will tolerate open hostility toward Jewish faith and tradition from elected officials.
“If this is what passes as acceptable behavior from a mayoral front-runner,” one national Jewish leader said, “we’re in serious trouble.”
Bottom Line: New York Deserves Better
Zohran Mamdani didn’t just share a “tone-deaf” video — he showcased, yet again, his deep-rooted disregard for Jewish faith, identity, and history. In an age when antisemitism is rising globally, when Jewish communities face threats in their synagogues, on college campuses, and in the streets, Mamdani chose to mock one of Judaism’s holiest celebrations — and then stood by it with smug defiance.
This wasn’t a lapse in judgment. It was a window into his character.
The far-left has long hidden behind slogans of “equity” and “inclusion” while embracing ideologies that actively exclude and target Jews. Mamdani’s record proves he is not a unifier. He is a divisive figure whose politics elevate fringe extremism over common sense, and hostility over harmony.
New York City — a place built by immigrants of every faith, especially Jewish families who helped shape its very foundation — deserves a mayor who respects all traditions, not one who laughs at them.
Leadership isn’t about performative wokeness or viral content. It’s about standing firm on principles — faith, family, decency, and truth. And on those fronts, Mamdani has already failed.
