Two Tribes of Mamdani Voters: Satmar Hasidim and Jewish Progressives

There are two distinct breeds of Jews who cast their ballots for Zohran Mamdani in New York City's mayoral race: the Satmar Hasidim and the progressives.

And there's something strikingly similar about them.

It's not just their intellectual extremism, though that's glaring enough. It's primarily their utter indifference to anyone who doesn't think their way, and their belief that the world should fall under their Hyper-Idealist vision - and if not - let it burn.

For the Satmars, that means all Jews who aren't exactly like them: hence ideologically hating the State of Israel and all other forms of orthodoxy or traditionalism that is not exactly theirs. For the progressive Jews, it's anyone, Jew or not, who is right-winger or conservative - that they believe, is an enemy of humanity and progress.

In this way, we're dealing with two peculiar byproducts of Historic Jewish Isolationism that are hyper-radical, one secular, and one religious, each manifesting this neurosis, in their own unieqe jewish way.

it was President John Adams who hoped that "Once restored to an independent government & no longer persecuted they [The Jews] would soon wear away some of the asperities & peculiarities of their character", well - guess he was wrong.

While, the Satmars think only of themselves, Jewish progressives think the exact opposite - of the entire world, but themselves.

These two forms of irrational extremism, one of hyper-selfishnes, and the other of hyper-altruism, serve as a mirror to something deeply unhealthy, rigid, and even pathological that clings to at least 30% of New York City's Jews.

Now, whether they like it or not, they'll be forced to reckon with it and make amends.