Several Jewish legal organizations have voiced strong criticism regarding Mayor Zohran Mamdani's appointments to the Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, citing the exclusion of any Jewish legal professionals from the 18-member panel. The committee is tasked with advising the mayor on judicial nominations.
In a joint letter, leaders from the Queens Brandeis Association, Jewish Lawyers Guild, the Brooklyn Brandeis Society, and the Bronx County Jewish Bar Association stated their "deep disappointment" with the announcement made on July 22. They noted that the administration had described the committee as one that would be "truly reflective of New York City," yet no Jewish attorney, former judge, or legal professional was selected.
The letter further characterized the decision as "a troubling pattern that has left many Jewish New Yorkers feeling increasingly marginalized." It referenced previous instances, including the mayor's rejection of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism and his omission of Jewish neighborhoods from a map of immigrant enclaves.
The Jewish community is reportedly feeling particularly vulnerable and in need of representation, especially following a recent attack on a Jewish man outside a synagogue on the Upper West Side, according to the letter.
The organizations urged the mayor to rectify the situation by appointing qualified Jewish members to the Advisory Committee and to reaffirm that Jewish New Yorkers deserve the same representation, respect, and protection as all other communities.
The committee is chaired by attorney Ali Najm, described as a close ally of the mayor. IMAGE2 {width=1536 height=1028}