Mamdani, July 4

and Henry de Koninck

We are in one of the most difficult times of our lives, and it’s

impossible to know just what to say. The terrible bill passed. Lisa

Murkowski, who some of us had liked even a little, was the

final nail in the coffin. Disappointing to see the transactional nature

of so many politicians,who don’t seem to believe in much more than

being elected.Still we’ve had a major victory in the city of New York.

Zohran Mamdani a declared Socialist,33 year old Muslim immigrant

full of hope, charisma, energy, and plans, won in the New York

City primary against all odds. In the beginning of the race, he was 40

points behind Andrew Cuomo, who had large amounts of money and

the support of the Democratic establishment, including an 8 million

dollar budget from Michael Bloomberg for ads (we received 15 of

them in the mail) targeted at the Jewish community, and explaining

Zohran’s anti-semitism, a notion beautifully debunked by Masha

Gessen in the New York Times, and many others around the

country. Zohran’s partner in this race, Brad Lander, the favorite of

many Jews in my neighborhood on the Upper West Side, helped him

to win.

Already the amount of anti-Muslim sentiment is disconcerting. And

although some Jewish Democrats have endorsed him, Chuck

Schumer still has not. There’s been an endless amount of finger-

pointing, and cries of anti-semitism. It’s true we’re living in a

frightening time and that anti-semitism is on the rise. So much of the

sad story of Israel is Gaza is the reason.

But Zohran is not an anti-Semite and to say he is because of his

politics says so many of us Jews who share his beliefs are anti-

semitic too. And we aren’t.

We heard that some of the Jewish funders in the Democratic party

who were sure Cuomo would win have requested that their money go

to Eric Adams now. And Schumer himself doesn’t want to upset his

donors so his endorsement remains a question.

We’re in a wildly divisive time where even good friends disagree.

Still Jessica de Konick’s son Henry, a long time political consultant,

wise and impressive analyst, had this to say about Mamdani’s rise:

“There’s a take going around that what happened in NYC isn’t

representative of where the Democratic Party is nationally. That

New York is too coastal, too liberal, too socialist. That the results

don’t mean anything for Democrats in the middle of the country - let

alone swing voters.That take is 100% wrong.

Here’s why: the Democratic primary electorate in big, diverse cities

like New York is actually more moderate than the electorate in deep-

red states like Iowa or Montana.

Why? Simple. In New York, hundreds of thousands of Democrats vote

in primaries. They represent the full spectrum of the party-

moderates, progressives, working-class voters, wealthy professionals,

and everyone in between.

In Iowa and Wyoming? Only the die-hard liberals are left in the party.

They’re the only ones still showing up.

Go back to the Hillary-Bernie and Biden-Bernie primaries. Bernie

thrived in more conservative states where Democratic primary

voters were few and far between. Hillary and Biden won big in the

larger, more diverse, deeply Democratic states.

Zohran Mamdani didn’t win some fringe contest that’s out of step

with the party. He won in the nation’s most populous city, in a

primary that included every kind of Democrat.

That’s not an outlier. That’s a signal. Henry de Koninck

Some friends have said that passing these devastating bills will give

us the House back in the midterm elections.

And I believe that Zohran will become New York City’s next mayor

inspite of the intense campaign to paint him as a radical Muslim anti-

Semite. (Trump says he will deport him!!!)

We hold onto hope. It’s our only choice.

Love to all on this beautiful and complicated day.

Esther

Some music for today:

Zohran rapping in a movie

The wonderful Avi Fox Rosen singing the gorgeous words of Yiddish poet Irena Klepfisz

https://www.avifoxrosen.org/the-journey-home