In a poignant display of interfaith solidarity amid rising global antisemitism, New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani made a private visit to the Ohel, the sacred gravesite of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, in Queens’ Old Montefiore Cemetery. The trip, which occurred on the evening of December 15, came just one day after a devastating terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where 16 people—many affiliated with Chabad-Lubavitch—lost their lives to what Australian authorities described as Islamist extremism. Chabad officials confirmed the visit, noting it as a moment of reflection and prayer for the victims, including two prominent Chabad rabbis with deep ties to New York’s Jewish community.
The Ohel, a serene marble structure housing the remains of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson—the revered seventh leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement—and his predecessor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, has long served as a beacon of spiritual solace. Attracting over a million visitors annually from diverse backgrounds, it has evolved into a pilgrimage site for politicians seeking guidance during turbulent times. Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist and Ugandan-born Muslim who won a stunning upset victory in November’s mayoral race, donned a black velvet kippah as he entered the site. Accompanied by Crown Heights activist Yaacov Behrman, a Chabad liaison, he offered a private prayer at the gravesite before departing quietly. This marked Mamdani’s first known visit to the Ohel, a gesture that Chabad spokespeople described as “reassuring” for New York’s Jewish residents grappling with heightened fears.jta.org
The Sydney Horror: A Hanukkah Nightmar
The attack unfolded on December 14, the first night of Hanukkah, at a joyous public menorah lighting organized by Chabad emissaries on Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach. Hundreds had gathered to celebrate the Festival of Lights when two gunmen—later identified as a father-son duo with suspected Islamist ties—opened fire with assault rifles, killing 16 and wounding dozens more. Among the dead were Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 40, an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi Beach who had trained at Brooklyn’s Lubavitch yeshiva, and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, both leaving behind young families. Schlanger, a vocal advocate against Australian antisemitism, was remembered for his upbeat spirit; just a year prior, he had shared a video of himself dancing with a car-top menorah as a defiant stand against hate.jfeed.com
Chabad, known for its outreach to Jews in remote areas, has faced increasing threats at public events. Yet, in defiance, the movement urged its chapters to proceed with Hanukkah celebrations, bolstering security and attendance in places like New York, where menorah lightings drew record crowds. Rabbi Ben Tzion Krasnianski of Chabad of the Upper East Side echoed this resolve at a Manhattan lighting: “We light brighter in the face of darkness.”jta.orgforward.com
Mamdani’s Response: Condemnation and Controversy
Hours after the Sydney shooting, Mamdani issued a statement from his transition team: “The attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney today was a vile act of antisemitic terror. I mourn those who were murdered and will be keeping their families, the Jewish community, and the Chabad movement in my prayers.” He specifically honored Rabbi Schlanger’s “deep ties to Crown Heights,” the Brooklyn hub of Chabad, and warned that the violence mirrored fears haunting Jewish New Yorkers: “What happened at Bondi is what many Jewish people fear will happen in their communities too.” Mamdani pledged to “confront hatred with the urgency and action it demands,” vowing daily protection for Jews in subways, streets, and synagogues.lavocedinewyork.comjta.org
Yet, the mayor-elect’s words drew immediate backlash. Critics seized on his description of the attackers as “men with long guns,” accusing him of sidestepping the Islamist motivations cited by officials. This echoed ongoing scrutiny of Mamdani’s record, including his reluctance to denounce the slogan “globalize the intifada”—a phrase chanted at pro-Palestinian protests and interpreted by many Jews as a call for violence against them. During his campaign, Mamdani defended the term as “aspiration for equality,” alienating pro-Israel voters and prompting Israeli President Isaac Herzog to publicly decry his “contempt for the Jewish and democratic State of Israel.” In Crown Heights, where Chabad is headquartered, turnout favored Mamdani’s rival, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, by wide margins.theyeshivaworld.com
Social media amplified the divide. Conservative voices like Laura Loomer tweeted, “You got your wish of ‘globalize the intifada,’” directly at Mamdani. Progressive Jewish allies, however, praised his outreach, with one X user noting, “Zohran is one of the biggest friends and supporters of the Jewish community, his words are constantly being taken out of context.” Mamdani’s visit to the Ohel—shared widely by Chabad chapters on Instagram—has been hailed by some as a bridge-building step, though skeptics question its sincerity given his ties to anti-Israel groups like Satmar Hasidim.newsweek.com
A Tradition of Political Pilgrimage
Eyewitness accounts described chaos as families fled the beachfront, with one attendee—later hailed a hero—rushing toward the gunfire to disarm a shooter, sustaining two wounds in the process. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the massacre as a “cowardly act of terror,” prompting swift calls for stricter gun laws in a nation unaccustomed to such violence. The incident, the deadliest antisemitic attack since the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, sent shockwaves through Jewish communities worldwide, amplifying concerns over a 400% surge in antisemitic incidents globally since October 2023.lavocedinewyork.com
Mamdani is far from the first leader to seek the Rebbe’s wisdom at the Ohel. Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, a frequent visitor (at least seven times), has called it a refuge during “the most difficult days” of his tenure. Former President Donald Trump stopped by in October 2024, and figures like Hillary Clinton and Michael Bloomberg have made the trek, underscoring its role as a nonpartisan spiritual nexus. For Mamdani, whose campaign courted progressive and Muslim voters while navigating NYC’s diverse Jewish electorate, the visit signals an effort to mend fences ahead of his January inauguration.
As Hanukkah’s flames flicker against a backdrop of grief, Jewish leaders in New York—from UJA-Federation events at Gracie Mansion to street-corner lightings—emphasize resilience. “We will not hide our light,” declared one rabbi at a Midtown vigil honoring Sydney’s fallen. Mamdani’s gesture at the Ohel, whatever its motivations, adds a layer to this story of defiance: a Muslim leader at a Jewish holy site, praying for shared safety in a city that prides itself on pluralism.
Whether this marks a turning point in Mamdani’s relationship with New York’s Jews remains to be seen. For now, in the quiet of Queens’ cemetery, it stands as a reminder that even in division, moments of quiet reverence can illuminate the path forward.
Sources: timesofisrael.com , ny1.com , jta.org , timesofisrael.com
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