Reflection on Mamdani

This blog came from Rabbi Tuvia Brander, who quotes a friend of his, Ari Goldberg. I thought it was well written and makes a great point of why we seem to be talking over each other. -Audrey Lichter

“Reflecting on recent events — I am struck by the sharp analysis of an old friend, Ari Goldberg.

“Mamdani has now stated repeatedly that he stands firmly against anti-Semitism and will do everything in his power to end the ‘scourge of anti-Semitism’ in New York City.

“I actually don’t think he’s lying. I believe that he means it. The glaring problem, however, is that he has allowed himself to define what is and isn’t anti-Semitism, rather than to learn its definition from the Jews who most experience it.

“Globalizing the intifada (a movement of murderous terror attacks with the sole intent of spilling Jewish blood)? Not anti-Semitic.

Singling out the only Jewish State to a double standard?  Not anti-Semitic.

“Singling out the only Jewish State to a double standard?  Not anti-Semitic.

“‘Anti-Zionism,’ when Zionism is a core religious and ethnic belief shared by more than 90% of worldwide Jewry, that Jewish people have a right to safety and self-determination in their ancestral homeland? Not anti-Semitic.

“Explicit support for Hamas and affiliate organizations, when Hamas’ charter calls for genocide against Jews around the world? Not anti-Semitic.

Ultimately, the core problem here is that Jews are NOT afforded the right to share our lived experience, and to define for ourselves what does and doesn’t count as Jew-hatred – a right afforded to other minorities.”