A New Hymn: Mamdayenu
Candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a Democratic New York City mayoral primary debate, June 4, 2025, in New York, US. Photo: Yuki Iwamura/Pool via REUTERS
Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for mayor, and will become the next mayor of New York City unless a Republican or independent candidate beats him in November. Handsome, slick, well-spoken, with a great understanding of social media and how to galvanize younger voters, he was able to pummel Andrew Cuomo and as the underdog and outsider. Many thought his anti-Israel and socialist views would cost him the race against Cuomo — but that didn’t happen.
On Passover, we recite “Dayenu” or “It Would Have Been Enough for Us” — in which God is praised for the great things he has done. This is “Mamdayenu” — in which we hope victory will pass over Mamdani in November and we look at the things he has said or done that are not so great.
If he had made a rap song saying you better look up the “Holy Land 5” — men convicted of fundraising for Hamas — and not said the Jewish state didn’t have a right to exist in its current form, Mamdayenu.
If he had not said the Jewish state didn’t have a right to exist, but then told Stephen Colbert it does have a right to exist and should uphold international law, the night before the primary election, Mamdayenu.
If he had not told Stephen Colbert the night before the primary that Israel has the right to exist and should uphold international law and had not said he would arrest Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he came to New York City, despite no legal basis to do so, Mamdayenu.
If he had not said he would arrest Netanyahu if he came to New York despite no legal basis to do so, and not said the city should run grocery stores — which everyone knows is a terrible idea — Mamdayenu.
If he had not said the city should run grocery stores, and not supported BDS, which is against New York State law, Mamdayenu.
If he had not supported BDS, which is against New York State law, and not tried to fool people about the meaning of the phrase “Globalize the Intifada” and refused to condemn the phrase, Mamdayenu.
If he had not tried to fool people about the meaning of the phrase, “Globalize the Intifada” and had not condemned the phrase, and not joked about Twinkies in an interview with Hasan Piker (who once said America deserved 9/11), Mamdayenu.
If he had not joked about Twinkies with streamer Hasan Piker, who once said America deserved 9/11, and his mother had not allegedly tried to get Gal Gadot banned from the Oscars, Mamdayenu.
If his mother had not allegedly tried to get Gal Gadot banned from the Oscars and he had not tweeted on October 8, 2023, against Israel but not Hamas, Mamdayenu.
If he had not tweeted on October 8, 2023, against Israel but not Hamas, and not called Israel an apartheid state, and not later said it has committed a genocide, Mamdayenu.
If he had not called Israel an apartheid state and not said it was committing a genocide, and not condemned the bombing of nuclear sites in Iran, Mamdayenu.
If he had not condemned the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites and not called to defund the police, only to more recently claim he would not, Mamdayenu.
If he had not called to defund the police and not posted about the death of Karen Diamond from her wounds of a terrorist attack in Colorado, without mentioning she was Jewish, or that she was a victim of antisemitism, or that the firebomber was globalizing the intifada, it would have been Mamdayenu.
The author is a writer based in New York.
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