NEW YORK (JNS) – Though Rabbi David Katz, executive director of the Israel Heritage Foundation, is no fan of Zohran Mamdani, he acknowledged the need to respect the new mayor of New York City.
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“It’s very simple. He’s become the mayor of New York, whether we like it or not,” Katz told JNS. “We’ve got to respect him as mayor.”
The Israel Heritage Foundation’s official social media account echoed the sentiment, stating, “As we enter the new year, we extend our deepest respect and honor to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who will be leading New York with greatness, making our city safe and proud. May his leadership bring joy and prosperity to all New Yorkers.”
Katz told JNS that political disagreements shouldn’t get in the way of showing respect, noting his reaction when U.S. President Joe Biden knelt to meet with Holocaust survivors during a 2022 trip to Israel.
“I wrote him a beautiful letter,” Katz said. “Now, a lot of Biden haters say you could never give him a compliment. It’s not true. If a person does the right thing, you compliment them.”
He told JNS that he won’t hesitate to call out Mamdani should he do something “not to the liking of humanity.” But, in the meantime, “why would I not give him a chance?”
I wonder why the first day it was so important to cancel the recognition of the current definition for anti-semitism and to cancel bans on city with BDS groups. I guess it was that urgent
It’s too bad he wasn’t in Germany when Hitler took power. I guess he would have urged respect for that Risho. A man like Mandami, who supports global intifada (meaning kill al Jews) should be respected?. We have to respect a man who wants to murder us?
Oy, Uch un vei that we need to teach this Rabbi, that respect is earned, not given because of a title.
Mandumbo has shown himself to be someone who we should oppose. Everything he talks about leads to us being wary of him. Look at the majority of people that he has appointed. For the most part, they do not instill confidence that we will be represented well by them.
How can any sane yid “respect” this antisemite intafadinik?
I suspect most of the comments are from a spammer and all 1-2 people. But let me just say, no we need not be PC. That’s where this comes from. Oy we need to be respective and lemmelach. No we need to be Trumpian and yell. Keep the pressure strong. The way the other side gets the message is when he fears he is being watched and nor by licking him. This doesn’t mean that name calling is called for. But yelling anti semite, being vocal etc is crucial. All the 9 comments below is from some liberal pc guy who doesn’t get it
We owe him him the same amount of respect that the democratic (socialist ) party give a republican
President that won by a landslide slide with Appx 50% of the popular vote
No respect has to be earned
Suffering only begins we have seen nothing..
100% right. We’re being led by biryonim that cannot see the facts.
And BTW – this is how R’ Yochanan bz and R Yehoshu would approach this. Sholom with the malchus. Not so?
Respect does not imply Love
I am suspect of his policies but I have to admit he is a very likable guy. I hope he does well for all citizens of NY. Think good and it will be good.
Katz doesn’t really represent anyone but he is right that Mamdani as Mayor must be respected by Orthodox Jews.
He is 100% correct!
A bunch of young inexperienced social media users are just causing panic and hysterics!