September 15, 2026
The schools appear to have been careful not to refer to the event as a “protest,” describing it in their communications as a “communal prayer” and a “student-led communal Shacharit.” Their messaging about the reason for the demonstration, too, has been vague. The emails viewed by Jewish Currents do not mention Mamdani’s criticism of Israel or his condemnation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the two major points of tension between the mayor and the Jewish establishment.
Despite the cautious tone, it is hard to read this mustering of day-school students outside Gracie Mansion as anything other than an act of protest against Mamdani, and an implicit charge that he poses a particular threat to observant Jews in the city. “It is time for us to stand up and be heard,” the email to Ramaz parents read. “It is time to show up proudly as Jews, as New Yorkers, and as Zionists.”
Show up as a Jew, show up as a New Yorker. Love how they snuck Zionist in there. Jews and New Yorkers should not be held responsible for the actions of Israel.
Except it seems a lot of people are Zionist both of the Jewish faith and what ever that bullshit thing they call Christianity I in America.
… Unless they are actively and publicly using their speech and funds by their own choice to support a genocide, in which case they should be held responsible for such support for genocide.
FTFY.
Honestly, this is hella anecdotal, but all the Jews I’ve met in the USA (including myself though technically I’m not Jewish just have ancestry and grew up with some traditions) actually do not actively support Israel.
All of them have said what’s happening to the Palestinians is fucked up and a genocide. I’m not friends with Zionists though.
I loathe that Israel has tried, and in many cases succeeded, to tie Judaism together with Zionism. It just leads to antisemitism because what Israel is doing is so wrong but the state seems to have a vested interest in people thinking of it as Jews doing it which is a messed up way to frame it.
Anyways yeah let’s hold people accountable but you can’t blame Jews as a whole for what Israel is doing.