The Push to Redefine Antisemitism: How Mamdani Threatens New York’s Soul

Masha Gessen’s latest *New York Times* screed, “The Attacks on Zohran Mamdani Show That We Need a New Understanding of Antisemitism,” is a maddening attempt to whitewash a growing threat to New York City’s Jewish community and the city itself. Gessen argues that accusations of antisemitism against mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a self-styled progressive with a penchant for anti-Israel vitriol, are overblown, born from a flawed conflation of criticizing Israel with hating Jews. Gessen wants to gut the definition of antisemitism, trotting out the Jerusalem Declaration to untangle anti-Zionism from anti-Jewish animus.

This is both naiive and a reckless invitation to let Mamdani’s divisive rhetoric, including his unhinged vow to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as mayor, set New York on a path to chaos.

Mamdani’s Menace: A Candidate Playing with Fire

Zohran Mamdani, darling of the anti-Israel crowd, is drowning in accusations of antisemitism, and Gessen wants us to feel sorry for him. Boo-hoo, he choked up at a Harlem press conference, whining about being called an antisemite while dodging the real issue: his own words are pouring gasoline on New York’s already volatile streets. This is a guy who’s openly said he’d arrest Netanyahu as mayor—a job that handles potholes and police budgets, not international war crimes tribunals. Are you kidding me? This is a power trip that screams hostility toward Jews, cloaked in “progressive” jargon. And Gessen has the gall to paint him as a victim of a smear campaign? Spare me.

Gessen points to two flashpoints: Mamdani’s dodge during the June 4, 2025, Democratic debate, where he refused to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, muttering about “equal rights” instead, and his mealy-mouthed response to the “Globalize the intifada” slogan on the “FYPod” podcast. He didn’t condemn the phrase, a call tied to violent uprisings that killed Israeli civilians, but pivoted to anti-hate-crime funding. Gessen calls this “deference to free speech.” I call it cowardice. That slogan is a dog whistle for violence, and Mamdani’s refusal to shut it down tells Jewish New Yorkers everything they need to know. He’s straight up dancing with it, and Gessen’s cheering from the sidelines.

The “Cool” New Antisemitism: A City on the Brink

Gessen’s push to redefine antisemitism, decoupling it from anti-Zionism, is a dangerous game that’s letting a toxic trend fester: the “coolness” of hating Jews, repackaged as edgy activism. We’re seeing it everywhere, swastikas scrawled on synagogues, chants of “Jews will not replace us,” and now, brazen attacks like the May 21, 2025, shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in D.C. and the June 1 firebombing of a pro-Israel rally in Boulder. Gessen shrugs, noting the attackers didn’t scream explicitly antisemitic slurs, as if shouting “Free Palestine” while hurling Molotov cocktails at Jews is just spirited political discourse. This is insanity! These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re a rising tide of hate, and Mamdani’s rhetoric is pouring fuel on the fire.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which Gessen and 900 academics want to ditch, calls out denying Jewish self-determination or holding Jews responsible for Israel’s actions. It’s not perfect, but it’s a firewall against the kind of rhetoric Mamdani spews. The IHRA doesn’t ban criticizing Israel, it says don’t demonize it or question its right to exist in ways you wouldn’t for other nations. Mamdani’s call to arrest Netanyahu and his hedging on Israel’s legitimacy cross that line, and Gessen’s attempt to sanitize it is a betrayal of every Jew who feels the weight of history in these attacks.

Fear Is Real, and Mamdani’s Stoking It

Gessen’s comparison of antisemitism accusations to Stalinist purges is beyond offensive. The world feel more like 1930s Poland than it does 2025 New York (or France, Canada or Australia). Synagogue shootings, firebombings, and chants of hate aren’t “stories” or abstractions; they’re happening now. The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and the global spike in antisemitic incidents since have Jews on edge, and Mamdani’s provocations—like calling for Netanyahu’s arrest—hit like a gut punch. To Jewish New Yorkers, this isn’t just politics; it’s personal. It evokes pogroms, expulsions, and the Holocaust’s shadow. Gessen’s call to redefine antisemitism dismisses these fears.

Mamdani’s defenders, like Gessen, argue he’s unfairly targeted, pointing to anti-Muslim slurs and threats he’s faced. Those are despicable and must be condemned—but they don’t erase the damage of his words. When he sidesteps Israel’s right to exist or winks at “intifada” rhetoric, he’s not just critiquing policy; he’s signaling to a city of 1.6 million Jews that their safety might take a backseat. New York can’t afford a mayor who plays these games.

Gessen’s blind spot is infuriating: Mamdani’s camp is just as cynical, using “free speech” and “Palestinian rights” as shields to dodge accountability. His call to arrest Netanyahu isn’t a policy proposal; it’s a stunt to rally anti-Israel voters while alienating Jews. And Gessen’s push for the Jerusalem Declaration, which softens the link between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, risks giving a free pass to rhetoric that incites hate. If Mamdani becomes mayor, this divisiveness could fracture New York’s social fabric, turning communities against each other in a city already stretched thin.

### New York Deserves Better

Antisemitism is avery real, growing threat that demands unflinching leadership. Mamdani’s refusal to clearly denounce inflammatory slogans or his bizarre fixation on arresting Netanyahu shows he’s not up to the task. New York, with its vibrant Jewish community, needs a mayor who unites, not one who stokes division with reckless rhetoric. Gessen’s call to loosen the definition of antisemitism is a dangerous step toward normalizing hate that could push New York to the breaking point.

Voters, take note: Mamdani’s not just running for mayor; he’s flirting with a vision that could unravel the city’s diversity and resilience (not to mention its economy). We can’t let his brand of “cool” antisemitism take root. New York’s too tough, too proud, and too united for that. Let’s keep it that way.