New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced a public confrontation while visiting Eichler's, a Judaica store in Brooklyn, just before the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.
Stephanie Benshimol, founder of the United Zionists group, filmed herself berating the mayor, accusing him of fostering antisemitism. As Mamdani greeted customers, Benshimol approached him, referencing former President Trump and the release of hostages, before stating, "It’s all because of you we have so much antisemitism." She identified herself as a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, expressing outrage that he would visit Borough Park, a neighborhood where her grandparents settled.
"Shame on you for coming to Borough Park where my Bubbie came after the Holocaust!" Benshimol exclaimed, using Yiddish terms for grandmother. "My Bubbie and Zaidy came to Borough Park! You have such chutzpah coming here! Shame on you!"
Mamdani's staff and store employees attempted to escort Benshimol away, prompting her to react, "Don't push me." She continued to appeal to the mayor, saying, "I'm begging you, as the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, to stop the antisemitism. All you're doing is focusing on Israel."
During the exchange, Benshimol reportedly called one of the individuals escorting her a "kapo," a term for a concentration camp prisoner tasked by Nazis with supervising others. She then directed her criticism at the store owners, accusing them of seeking to appease "the hater of all Jewish people."
Benshimol concluded her protest by stating, "Shame on you Eichler’s, shame on you for allowing Zohran Mamdani to come to the heart of the Jewish neighborhood in Borough Park. They want to kiss ass to the hater of all Jewish people."
Mamdani remained silent and smiled during the encounter as he was ushered away by his staff.
Mamdani's tenure has drawn criticism from some Jewish groups over his public statements regarding the Israeli-Gaza conflict and his support for Palestine. Following his election, the Anti-Defamation League reportedly raised concerns about his "long disturbing record on issues of deep concern to the Jewish community."
This incident follows a separate request from the Port Authority Retired Police Association urging Mamdani to avoid the 25th anniversary 9/11 commemoration. The association stated his attendance would cause "deep pain" to victims' families and that his public statements risked shifting focus away from the ceremony's purpose. They cited a 2023 statement commemorating the 9/11 attacks where Mamdani reportedly stated "New Yorkers died on 9/11" instead of "were murdered."