NEW YORK — New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani made several appearances at Jewish events during the Hanukkah holiday, but did not attend any public menorah lightings.

The holiday came with baggage for Mamdani, due to the terror shooting at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia, and he risked pushback at public events.

After the massacre, some Jewish community advocates decried Mamdani’s past support for the phrase “Globalize the intifada,” as playing into threats against Jews. Mamdani has repeatedly said he would “discourage” the slogan, without condemning the phrase.

Mamdani issued unequivocal condemnation of the Sydney shooting, calling it a “vile act of antisemitic terror.”

After the massacre, Mamdani quietly visited the resting place of the late leader of the Chabad Hasidic movement, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. The Australia shooting targeted a Chabad event and killed members of the movement.

Chabad........

© The Times of Israel