Jewish leaders in New York City have accused Mayor Zohran Mamdani of "fanning the flames of hatred and division" as an investigation continues into a pair of stabbings in Manhattan’s Upper West Side that are being examined as potential hate crimes. New York Attorney General Letitia James stated that both victims are in stable condition following Thursday's attack. The suspect, identified as Raul Morales, 51, is alleged to have yelled "Allahu Akbar" while stabbing two men.
Eric Goldstein, CEO of the UJA-Federation of New York, said Friday that "When the mayor of New York repeatedly uses his platform to relentlessly single out and demonize Israel, the world's only Jewish state, and calls those who support it monsters, he contributes to a climate in which Jewish New Yorkers are increasingly targeted and unsafe." He urged Mamdani to stop, stating, "The consequences are not abstract. They are playing out on our streets."
Rabbi Yosie Levine of The Jewish Center echoed these sentiments, asserting that "When public officials repeatedly cast the Jewish community as a stand-in for actions of the Israeli government, they create a climate in which Jews become targets." He drew a stark comparison, noting that "Jewish life in America is starting to feel like Jewish life in Europe. Armed guards, bulletproof glass, and the constant fear that yesterday's rhetoric will turn into today's assault."
In response to questions from Fox News Digital, Mamdani's office pointed to his remarks to NY1, where he stated, "There's no tolerance for antisemitism or hatred of any kind in this city." He added, "If anyone is perpetrating this kind of a bigotry, that kind of hatred, they will be held fully accountable." Mamdani clarified that his comments about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are "critiques of a political leader not of people of a specific faith or a religion or a background" and that his responsibility is to keep all New Yorkers safe.
The victims were identified in media reports as Chok Sung, 57, and Moshe Grunhaus, 50. "To have been stabbed 200 feet from the Jewish center evokes all the worst images of the Jewish past," Levine said. "If a Jew can't feel safe walking home from shul in broad daylight on a Thursday afternoon on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, then something has gone profoundly wrong, not only for the Jewish community, but for our city."
Goldstein called Mamdani's recent characterization of Netanyahu as a "war criminal" "political grandstanding," stating, "His words have profound real world consequences on us and shame on him."
Attorney General James emphasized the importance of combating all forms of hate, noting that "anti-Semitic acts have been growing in the city of New York. It's really critically important." She also highlighted an increase in acts against the Asian community and called for unity against hate. "It's important that I stand with my Jewish friends, that I stand with my Asian friends, that I let everyone know that there should not be any space between any of us, that we should stand together against any form of hate, any act of hate in the city and the state of New York, that it will not be tolerated."