NYC Mayor Adams visits Crown Heights Chabad home for Sukkos

New York City Mayor Mayor Mamdani visited the Crown Heights home of prominent Chabad activist Yaakov Berman during Chol Hamoed Sukkos, sitting in the family's sukkah for what Berman described as a personal, family visit.

"We hosted him to share the beauty and meaning of the holiday," Berman told Kikar Hashabbat. "It was a personal visit, not in any official capacity. In the sukkah were only his staff and members of my family."

The group discussed the holiday of Sukkos, family, and the messages of a festival Jews have celebrated for thousands of years. Berman's children explained to the mayor the concept of the ushpizin, the guests invited into the sukkah each day of the festival, as brought down in the Zohar. On the evening Mamdani visited, the ushpiz was Aharon Hakohen, known for his work promoting peace. "We blessed the mayor that he should lead with unity and work to bring together the residents of New York," Berman said.

Berman also told the mayor that the house where he lives in the neighborhood is directly behind the house where the Lubavitcher Rebbe lived. He shared several memories from the time when the Rebbe lived in that home.

Mamdani's visit ignited a storm from both sides. Elements in Jewish communities criticized him for meeting with a pro-Palestinian figure who has made harsh statements against Israel and its policies. On the other side, antisemitic voices attacked the mayor for visiting the frum family's home, noting that the family has in the past spoken out strongly against Mamdani.

Berman responded to the criticism. "The mayor knows very well that I and my family support Israel. My approach, as I understand it from the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, is that one should never close the door to dialogue. Nothing is achieved by refusing to engage in conversation. It is possible to have a discussion while standing firm in our beliefs and remaining proud of our heritage."