Should they host Mamdani?
Crown Heights Split: Should Hasidim Meet with Mamdani?
Questions are swirling in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, the largest Chabad neighborhood in New York, home to thousands of Haredi families, over whether to host Democratic mayoral candidate Zohraan Mamdani, known for his pro-Palestinian stances, after he visited Satmar communities during Sukkot.
Mamdani is considered a red flag in much of the Orthodox Jewish community in New York due to his sharply critical statements about Israel. Many in the neighborhood have already voiced support for independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani’s rival, who currently leads in the polls.
The controversy erupted after Satmar communities hosted Mamdani during the intermediate days of the festival. On the Haredi community site COLlive, residents debated whether the community should reach out to him.
Responses were mixed: while many opposed any engagement and urged efforts to defeat him electorally, others suggested initiating contact, reasoning “he will win anyway.”
Although Mamdani is leading in polls, he faces two main competitors: Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent Andrew Cuomo. If both continue their campaigns, Mamdani appears to have the strongest chance of winning, but if one drops out, his prospects could decline sharply.
The controversy intensified after Mamdani was photographed smiling and holding hands with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, a prominent Muslim figure previously linked to calls for jihad in New York and investigated in connection with the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Wahhaj, 75, has denied involvement in terrorism but has previously praised terrorist activity in sermons, including advocating for a “10,000-man army” in New York.
Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa condemned the photo, stating, “Mamdani’s association with this man disqualifies him from office. New York needs a leader who will protect it from terrorists, not embrace them.” Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, now running as an independent, also sharply criticized the image, saying, “When people show you who they are, believe them, Zohraan, take that smile off your face.”