Zohran Mamdani Receives Hero's Welcome at Massive Satmar Hasidic Celebrations

In what some might call a striking display of cross-community solidarity, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani was met with thunderous applause and chants of support Thursday night at two massive gatherings of the anti-Zionist Satmar Hasidic sect, drawing tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews to commemorate the historic rescue of their founder from Nazi persecution.

The events, held as part of the annual Chof Alef Kislev celebrations marking Grand Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum's escape from Hungary in 1944 via the Kastner train, showed Mamdani's deepening ties with one of NYC's largest and most influential Jewish blocs, despite ongoing accusations of antisemitism from critics over his vocal pro-Palestinian stance, not to mention saying he would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he ever came to New York.

A Dual Appearance at Rival Factions' Events

Mamdani first arrived at the Waterfront Square event on Kent Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, hosted by Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum's faction. Surrounded by jubilant attendees in traditional black hats and long coats, he was greeted with Hasidic music and cheers as he navigated the sprawling aircraft hangar venue, estimated to hold over 20,000 people.

Later, he crossed town to the Brooklyn Armory in Crown Heights for Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum's parallel celebration, where another 15,000–20,000 gathered. Videos circulating on social media showed Mamdani shaking hands with rabbis and community leaders, with one clip capturing a sea of yarmulkes and sidelocks parting for the incoming mayor.

"This is a profound honor," Mamdani told reporters briefly outside the Armory, according to eyewitness accounts. "The Satmar community's resilience and commitment to justice inspire us all. Together, we'll build a New York where every neighborhood thrives." He reiterated pledges to safeguard yeshivas from funding cuts and protect religious freedoms – key issues that secured the sect's pivotal endorsement during his upset primary win in June.

The Satmar gatherings, which draw global crowds to reaffirm the sect's opposition to Zionism and the State of Israel, have long been a cornerstone of Hasidic life in Brooklyn. This year's events carried extra weight amid heightened global tensions over Israel's policies, including recent protests against Haredi military drafts.'B

Critics decried the scene as a "hero’s welcome at massive Satmar Gathering... with Anti-Israeli Jews," linking it to broader "anti-Israeli" influences in Hollywood and politics.

A Pragmatic Alliance Born of Shared Priorities – and Controversy

Satmar's embrace of Mamdani, a Ugandan-born Muslim who has called for a ceasefire in Gaza and supported BDS, stems from pragmatic politics rather than ideology alone. The sect, split between the two Teitelbaum brothers since the 1990s, prioritizes local issues like housing affordability, yeshiva funding, and exemptions from secular education mandates – areas where Mamdani has courted them aggressively.In October, during Sukkot, he dined with Satmar leaders in Williamsburg, vowing: "I will work to defend your way of life from anyone who tries to interfere with it."

Rabbi Moishe Indig, a key influencer, endorsed him in November, calling the support "transactional" but effective in mobilizing the bloc's 50,000+ voters.

Yet the alliance has fueled backlash. Prominent rabbis like Ammiel Hirsch have accused Mamdani of aligning with "Hamas" rhetoric, warning it endangers NYC's 1.1 million Jews.

The Anti-Defamation League launched a "Mamdani Monitor" in November after his tepid response to a pro-Palestinian protest outside Park East Synagogue, where chants of "globalize the intifada" rang out.

Satmar leaders fired back in Der Blatt, their weekly paper: "Mamdani is not an antisemite" – a rare public defense from the insular group.

Jewish support for Mamdani remains polarized: A June poll showed about 20% of NYC Jews backing him, buoyed by progressives like Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ), but alienating moderates and Orthodox Zionists.

Tonight's events, captured in viral videos from Matzav.com, highlighted his "outside-the-box" outreach, including Rosh Hashanah at a progressive Brooklyn shul and a joint vigil with Comptroller Brad Lander on October 7's anniversary.

Broader Implications for a Divided City

As Mamdani prepares to take office on January 1, his Satmar overtures signal a strategy to consolidate progressive and minority coalitions in the nation's largest city. But with antisemitic incidents up 30% since October 2023, per NYPD data, Jewish leaders are demanding private meetings, scheduled for next week, to address "core divides."