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Mamdani Hosts Jewish Heritage Month / Shavuot Reception at Gracie Mansion — UJA-Federation and JCRC Boycott Over Nakba Video; Commissioner Tisch, Comptroller Levine, MBP Hoylman-Sigal Also Absent; Event Moved to Smaller Blue Room

May 19, 2026Forward | JTA | Jewish Insider | Times of Israel | VINnews | JFeed | Hannity | AOL Official
Read the full story at Forward | JTA | Jewish Insider | Times of Israel | VINnews | JFeed | Hannity | AOL
Summary

Mamdani's first Jewish American Heritage Month reception, programmed as a Shavuot celebration with a dairy menu, took place Mon evening May 18 at Gracie Mansion. UJA-Federation of NY and JCRC-NY — the two largest umbrellas representing NYC's ~1M Jewish residents — declined to attend, citing Mamdani's May 15 Nakba Day video that they said 'denies a central pillar of our heritage — the State of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people.' Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Comptroller Mark Levine, and Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal — three of the highest-profile Jewish officials in city government — were notably absent. The event was reportedly moved indoors to the smaller blue reception room with ~150 attendees. Some Hasidic leaders (Rabbi David Niederman, UJO of Williamsburg) attended. Forward framing: 'first Jewish Heritage event reveals a narrowed circle.'

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