Mandy Patinkin, a well-known Jewish actor, has publicly supported Zohran Mamdani, a candidate for mayor of New York City, in a video shared on Instagram. In the video, Patinkin described Mamdani as "a deeply thoughtful human being" who would make "the best NYC mayor imaginable." He emphasized that he and his family feel this way "as New Yorkers" and "as Jews" who value "kindness, compassion and empathy" in politics.
Patinkin's comments come as early voting is ongoing for the upcoming general election on November 4. Mamdani, who is the Democratic nominee and a member of the New York State Assembly from Queens, is competing against independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. The early voting period in New York City runs from October 25 to November 2, with Election Day on Tuesday, November 4. Recent local coverage has highlighted a tightening race in the final days leading up to the election.
Mamdani’s campaign has gained momentum among progressive voters through proposals focused on affordability, transit, and housing. However, his positions on Israel have attracted significant attention and debate.
The Jerusalem Post has covered the criticism from New York Jewish leaders and organizations, including calls for Mamdani to abandon rhetoric that some see as undermining Zionism and Israel. During debates, rivals have accused him of inciting antisemitism, which he denies.
Zohran Mamdani's controversy
Coverage in the Post has also explored Mamdani’s long-standing support for Palestinian causes and examined what he has said about Jews and Israel as the city's large Jewish electorate considers the race.
The general election comes after a heated primary season that brought Mamdani to the top of the Democratic ticket, setting up a three-way race with Cuomo and Sliwa.
In a July interview with the New York Times Magazine, Patinkin and his wife, Kathryn Grody, criticized Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza and urged Jews worldwide to reflect on whether the situation is "acceptable and sustainable." Grody stated that compassion for Gazans is "very Jewish" and rejected claims that criticizing Israeli policy equates to antisemitism. Patinkin recalled disliking Benjamin Netanyahu's "vibe" when he first met him in the 1980s and argued that Netanyahu's right-wing government poses a danger to both Israel and Jews globally. He asked Jews to consider the moral cost of the war.
These remarks align with Patinkin’s history of left-leaning activism regarding Israel. This includes a 2020 video from the New Israel Fund opposing West Bank annexation, a 2021 social media thread advocating for Palestinian "liberation," and his decision not to participate in a 1998 tribute for Israel’s 50th anniversary. His comments sparked strong reactions from pro-Israel influencers online, while many users on the New York Times’ TikTok platform praised Patinkin.