Jewish New Yorkers Are Furious Over Those Pro-Mamdani Texts About Oct. 7
So here’s what’s been going down in New York. Right before the mayoral primary, a bunch of Jewish voters got these wild text messages—supposedly from someone who knew a victim of the Hamas attacks on October 7th. And get this: they were pushing people to vote for Zohran Mamdani, this progressive candidate. People are calling it disgusting, saying it’s straight-up exploiting trauma for political gain. Honestly? It’s messy.
Wait, What Did The Texts Actually Say?
Okay, picture this: you’re Jewish, living in Brooklyn, and your phone buzzes. Some random number hits you with: “My friend was murdered by Hamas. Honor their memory by voting for Zohran Mamdani—the only candidate who stands for justice.” First of all—what? Mamdani’s been super critical of Israel, so telling people that voting for him “honors” victims of an anti-Jewish attack? That’s… a choice.
And people weren’t having it. “Felt like emotional blackmail,” Rachel Klein, who lives in Brooklyn, told me. She was one of the first to post screenshots online. “Using a dead person’s name to push some agenda? That’s not justice. That’s just wrong.”
How The Jewish Community Reacted
Oh man, the backlash was instant. The Jewish Community Relations Council straight-up called the texts “reprehensible.” The ADL? They said it was offensive. And Twitter—sorry, X—blew up with hashtags like #NotInOurName. People were pissed.
Even progressive voters drew a line. “I lean left, but this? Nah,” said David Feldman from the Upper West Side. “You don’t use murdered Jews to sell a guy who acts like anti-Semitism isn’t real.”
Who Even Is Zohran Mamdani?
Right, so Mamdani’s this Democratic Socialist in the state assembly. He’s all about BDS, calls Israel an “apartheid state,” and says the U.S. is funding “genocide” in Gaza. The far-left loves him, but after October 7th? A lot of Jewish folks aren’t feeling it.
His campaign says they had nothing to do with the texts. But here’s the thing—last year, a PAC backing him got in trouble for flyers comparing Zionism to white supremacy. So, you know, people are side-eyeing the whole situation.
Why This Hits Different
October 7th was brutal—1,200 Israelis dead, mostly civilians. And now? It’s become this political weapon. Some progressives, Mamdani included, talk about Israel’s response like it’s just “colonial violence.” Meanwhile, moderates see it as straight-up terrorism against Jews. But using a victim’s name without their family’s okay? That’s next-level messed up.
Deborah Lipstadt, this Holocaust historian, put it best: “This isn’t activism. It’s vampirism. Since when do we use corpses as campaign props?”
Bigger Picture: The Left’s Anti-Semitism Problem
This isn’t just a New York thing. In France, far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon refused to call Hamas terrorists, and people lost it. Online? Places like Reddit’s r/Politics act like anti-Semitism is just “Zionist propaganda.” It’s exhausting.
“When parts of the left normalize rhetoric that dehumanizes Jews, this is what happens,” said Ari Hoffman, a political analyst. “But exploiting the dead? That’s a new low, even for them.”
What Happens Now?
Who knows how this’ll affect the primary. But moderate candidates are already using it, saying they’ll “reject hate.” And some Jewish Democrats? They’re thinking about walking away. “If our pain is just a talking point, why stick around?” one voter told me.
Final Thought
Politics should be about hope, not manipulation. These texts didn’t just cross a line—they took a running leap over it. And New Yorkers won’t forget that. Exploiting tragedy for votes? That’s not justice. It’s just shameful.
Source: NY Post – US News
