Long Island Jewish community concerned over social media posts about Oct. 7 attacks 'liked' NYC first lady
The Jewish community on Long Island is reacting to the social media posts about Oct. 7th attacks liked by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife.
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The Jewish community on Long Island is concerned over the social media posts about Oct. 7 attacks liked by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji.
Rabbi Eli Goodman, the spiritual leader at Chabad of the Beaches, says recent comments from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife are concerning, but they’re not surprising.
“Everybody recognizes what happened on Oct. 7 and there is no way at all to justify that whatsoever,” Goodman said.
Duwaji is facing criticism after liking a social media post that referred to Hamas’ actions during the Oct. 7 attack as a “mass rape hoax" and another describing the attack as "collective liberation."
“The fact is, the mayor has been very, very vocal on his views on Israel,” Goodman said. “At the same time, he has to be the mayor for all New Yorkers, and he has to make sure that everybody in houses of worship are protected and everybody feels safe.”
Mamdani addressed the issue in a press conference Friday, but many people were unhappy with his response.
“There should be no other answer than ‘I do not condone this,’' said Bali Lerner, executive director of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. “What happened on Oct. 7 to the Jewish people was absolutely unacceptable. And that's it. There should be no other statement.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman released a statement Sunday after New York City police had to investigate a homemade bomb during protests on Saturday.
He said, “[The Mamdani Family’s] words don’t just deny atrocities—they empower extremists and help create a climate where hatred leads to real-world violence.”
Blakeman also demanded a public apology and condemnation from Duwaji.
