Exclusive: Mamdani to meet with New York rabbis to discuss his agenda, as Jews remain divided over him
Mamdani was warmly received by tens of thousands of Satmar Hasidim in Brooklyn on Wednesday night
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Dec. 11. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
By Jacob Kornbluh December 11, 2025
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will meet with a dozen diverse rabbis and community leaders on Thursday, continuing months of outreach to Jewish leaders and clergy as Jews in New York remain divided about his election.
Mamdani is expected to present his vision on public safety and affordability and engage in a discussion about common interests and collaboration with the New York Board of Rabbis, according to two sources familiar with the planning. Rabbi Joe Potasnik, the group’s executive vice president, is among 19 Jewish leaders on Mamdani’s transition team.
Since his surprise primary victory in June, Mamdani has engaged in continuous Jewish outreach.
The city’s Jewish voters split in the competitive mayoral election last month — with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo receiving the support of most voters who identify as Jewish and dominating in Hasidic and Orthodox strongholds, while Mamdani got 31% of the vote and swept progressive Jewish neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Manhattan on his way to a citywide win. Some mainstream organizations have adopted a wait-and-see approach.
On Wednesday night, Mamdani was warmly received by tens of thousands of Satmar Hasidim in Brooklyn, attending the annual day of celebration by the sect, marking the day the late Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum, was saved from the Holocaust. Mamdani was endorsed by the leader of the Satmar Ahronim faction, while the other faction remained neutral. The Satmar community is known for its staunchly anti-Zionist religious ideology.
Rabbi David Neiderman, leader of the Satmar sect known as the Zalonim, told the crowd in his introduction of the mayor-elect that its leadership “were left deeply impressed” after engaging in “meaningful conversations” with Mamdani, under the Rebbe’s guidance. “The mayor-elect has shown a genuine commitment to safeguarding our community — our safety, our religious rights, our yeshivas, and our way of life,” Niederman said, according to a recording shared with the Forward.
Mamdani, accompanied by his senior advisor Andrew Epstein, was acknowledged by Satmar leaders and shook hands with the Rebbe, Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum shlita.
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) December 11, 2025
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Phlyssa Wisdom, head of the progressive New York Jewish Agenda, said she is encouraged by Mamdani’s ongoing meetings with the full diversity of the Jewish community after his election. Wisdom said it’s important that the Mayor-elect is doing this even before he is inaugurated.
“I think it’s better for everyone if he comes into City Hall with respectful and warm relationships with lots of different leaders, including some of his critics,” Wisdom said.
