Mr Kerstein, I have been reading you for some time but subscribed so I could add to this discussion that I have already addressed in a sarcastic manner in my own Substack under the title "Imagine New York without Jews". It featured an AI cartoon of Sinatra singing New York, New York... "Start spreading the news... New York has no Jews!"
I was obviously making the point that should Mandani win the mayoralty, many Jews would flee NYC. Unlike you, I think this is a good idea. I am not that much of admirer of the war on the wretched Corbyn successful az that may have been. The UK remains a hotbed of antisemitism and Islamism and is not, in my view, to be imitated. As one who was born in Manhattan, lived decades in LA as a screenwriter, and now in NAshville, New York even now (before Mandani) is intolerable to me.
All great cities have their days in the sun--Rome, Athens and so forth--and the time for NY to go is gone. It will be hastened by many successful Jews leaving (largely to Miami or Tel Aviv) and New York will have to stew in its juices. The city will go into a rapid, and VERY DESERVED, decline. A lesson (hopefully) will be learned. Some of this is sad. I love the Metropolitan Museum and the Opera as much as most people (the theater is already a wasteland) but nothing is perfect. One can always visit.
But NYC was largely (not exclusively of course) built by Jews in almost every area of life. Jesse Jackson called it "hymie town" for a reason, obnoxious as that term was. We can, and have, built great things in other places and other times. . Socialism, meanwhile, as anyone with an IQ in the proverbial triple digits knows, has never worked and never will, The wretched Jewish pols of NY like Schumer can go stuff it in their slavish hypocrisy as they take a knee for Mamdani. They have been less than pond scum for years. Florida has better government anyway by far. Move there. Or head to Jerusalem, or anywhere in Eretz Israel. In January, every Jew reading this will thank me as New York turns into more of a hellhole than it already is. You will be doing something more revolutionary than marching against stupid progressives who won't listen to you.. (When have they ever?). And if New York comes back to its senses because it goes broke, you can always return. But don't hold your breath.
Thanks for subscribing, Roger. I think you may very well be right, but I don't think the Jews should allow themselves to be pushed out of a city they helped build without a fight.
Too many New York Jews are in denial, apathetic or internally anti-semitic. Jews in my circles do not even talk about it among themselves. I do not think the community has the fight, or the self-respect in them. I wish it were not so, but my romance with New York is over. I would like to leave.
Here is the thing. You are describing a neo Hitler movement. Mamdani is dangerous for a lot of reasons. In the end he is just a hard leftist hater of Israel. He is not uniquely hateful towards Jews. His goal is not to eliminate Jews from NYC. This is not to say it wont be a serious problem but we must describe things accurately. What will happen under his mayoralty is that NYC generally will collapse. There will be massive disorder and crime that will affect all New Yorkers and his disastrous policies will push ALL tax paying citizens to consider leaving. Obviously he will look the other way as campuses and the streets collapse into general disorder directed both against Trump and against Israel/Jews. But he will not lead this or directly encourage it. Therefore it will be hard to fight. Peaceful marches will not counteract street riots. Its a frightful mess. I dont think too many people want to fight city hall so to speak.
I meant that he will do things like incite with "dog whistles" and then look the other way when the violence occurs. He'll also quietly purge Jews from positions of power and the like. If it reads like he's going to conduct himself literally like Hitler, then that's my fault. It wasn't my intention.
I do think he is uniquely hateful toward Jews. You can't be part of the movement he's part of without such hate.
Yes there will be a Nakba day parade in NYC on May, 15 2026. The participants will march down Fifth Avenue lamenting the creation of the State of Israel and committing to its final destruction and celebrating this dream. Yes the intifada will be organized and supported by NYC.
In November of 2026 when SJP organizes a riot at Columbia University, Mayor Mamdani will not call the NYPD to protect lives and property from the antisemitic mob.
In November of 2026 Mayor Mamdani will make a move to have NYC boycott, divest and sanction Israel: financially, academically and commercially.
Yes Mahmoud Khalil will be appointed by Mayor Mamdani to serve on The New York City Department of Education Panel for Educational Policy.
After November 2026, Zionists in NYC will be on their own. Maybe they will be able to call a social worker when the pogroms run wild because Mayor Mamdani has called for the defunding of the police force.
I think the anti-Corbyn model is best. We'll see if NY Jews can organize effectively for it. The great disadvantage is that American Jewish leaders are so useless.
To anyone and all: if you have not already read it - this article is a plea to liberal Jews (emphasis liberal). If anyone can reach them, it may be some of the readers here. I'm guessing most readers here know this - but it may be worse than some surmise.
Liberal Jews, It's Time to Grow Up and Wake Up
C.A. Skeet | 9:00 AM on July 12, 2025
A couple of snippets -
"But any cursory understanding of history shows that antisemites don’t hate religious Jews. They hate Jews. They don’t hate Israeli Jews. They hate Jews. They don’t hate Republican Jews. They hate Jews."
"And polling shows that you still don’t see it. About 52% of American Jews think Donald Trump is antisemitic. Not Ilhan Omar. Not Rashida Tlaib. Not Zohran Mamdani. Donald Trump, the most pro-Israel, pro-Jewish president this nation has ever had, is considered by a majority* of American Jews to be prejudiced against them. And this poll wasn’t taken in 2016 or 2020. It was taken two months ago."
* My 'clarification'; 52% is a narrow majority that could be within sampling error.
The question remains, how can that number even be close to 50%?
The answer is willful denial. If they faced that the Democrats are becoming systemically antisemitic, the size of the betrayal would hit them like a freight train. They'd feel stupid, humiliated, angry, and ashamed. So they just pretend it isn't happening. It's the easiest and simplest solution.
My impression is those particular poll numbers of American Jews who are also Democrats, especially when also liberal, are not similar to those of the Jewish people of Israel. Would that be correct?
Israelis are extremely diverse politically, unlike American Jews. The consensus leans right at the moment, but there is a vast political spectrum from communists to far-right nationalists. There is no doubt, however, that the Israeli majority views the Republicans as far more sympathetic and trustworthy than the Democrats.
As I continue to check my email, I just came across this from INSS: "American Jews Are Divided on Trump’s Antisemitism Policy." by Theodore Sasson & Avishay Ben Sasson-Gordis. You already may have read this.
I am working a children’s book. My target audience is composed of the children who voted for Zohran Mamdani.
It’s a work in progress but it looks like I will have four years to complete it.
The working title is , “Yes my Darlings there are such things as Free Lunches”
Introduction
———————————-
“Socialism will disrupt and destroy the following for New Yorkers: Safety, Schools, Sanitation, Startups, Social services, Shelter, Subways, Streets, Shows, Shopping, Sidewalks, South Street Seaport, and Soho. From A for Arts to Z for Zoo Mamdani will screw NYC for me and for you.”
The movie script to work on is about Mamdani’s promise to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu. So Bibi arrives in NYC and Mayor Mamdani orders his arrest and Shin Bet has to face off against the NYPD. At this point Governor Stefanik or Governor Torres or Governor Hochul calls in the National Guard to intervene in the standoff that is unfolding on the Grand Central Parkway. If they fail to act President Trump will call in a special team of the United States Secret Service to fight along side the Shin Bet. Working title is, “Gracie Mansion Down”.
New Yorkers still have time to step back from the brink but I must agree with Benjamin Kerstein; Zohran Mamdani will win the keys to City Hall and drive the city into a massive wreck.
Mr Kerstein, I have been reading you for some time but subscribed so I could add to this discussion that I have already addressed in a sarcastic manner in my own Substack under the title "Imagine New York without Jews". It featured an AI cartoon of Sinatra singing New York, New York... "Start spreading the news... New York has no Jews!"
I was obviously making the point that should Mandani win the mayoralty, many Jews would flee NYC. Unlike you, I think this is a good idea. I am not that much of admirer of the war on the wretched Corbyn successful az that may have been. The UK remains a hotbed of antisemitism and Islamism and is not, in my view, to be imitated. As one who was born in Manhattan, lived decades in LA as a screenwriter, and now in NAshville, New York even now (before Mandani) is intolerable to me.
All great cities have their days in the sun--Rome, Athens and so forth--and the time for NY to go is gone. It will be hastened by many successful Jews leaving (largely to Miami or Tel Aviv) and New York will have to stew in its juices. The city will go into a rapid, and VERY DESERVED, decline. A lesson (hopefully) will be learned. Some of this is sad. I love the Metropolitan Museum and the Opera as much as most people (the theater is already a wasteland) but nothing is perfect. One can always visit.
But NYC was largely (not exclusively of course) built by Jews in almost every area of life. Jesse Jackson called it "hymie town" for a reason, obnoxious as that term was. We can, and have, built great things in other places and other times. . Socialism, meanwhile, as anyone with an IQ in the proverbial triple digits knows, has never worked and never will, The wretched Jewish pols of NY like Schumer can go stuff it in their slavish hypocrisy as they take a knee for Mamdani. They have been less than pond scum for years. Florida has better government anyway by far. Move there. Or head to Jerusalem, or anywhere in Eretz Israel. In January, every Jew reading this will thank me as New York turns into more of a hellhole than it already is. You will be doing something more revolutionary than marching against stupid progressives who won't listen to you.. (When have they ever?). And if New York comes back to its senses because it goes broke, you can always return. But don't hold your breath.
Thanks for subscribing, Roger. I think you may very well be right, but I don't think the Jews should allow themselves to be pushed out of a city they helped build without a fight.
Who at the next Met Gala will wear a dress blazoned with the Words “tax the Jews”?
Too many New York Jews are in denial, apathetic or internally anti-semitic. Jews in my circles do not even talk about it among themselves. I do not think the community has the fight, or the self-respect in them. I wish it were not so, but my romance with New York is over. I would like to leave.
Maybe some younger New Yorkers will stay and resist. I am too tired and drained. I wrote my own essay about leaving NY. Have not posted yet.
It's an understandable decision. We all have to do what's best for our own well-being.
Here is the thing. You are describing a neo Hitler movement. Mamdani is dangerous for a lot of reasons. In the end he is just a hard leftist hater of Israel. He is not uniquely hateful towards Jews. His goal is not to eliminate Jews from NYC. This is not to say it wont be a serious problem but we must describe things accurately. What will happen under his mayoralty is that NYC generally will collapse. There will be massive disorder and crime that will affect all New Yorkers and his disastrous policies will push ALL tax paying citizens to consider leaving. Obviously he will look the other way as campuses and the streets collapse into general disorder directed both against Trump and against Israel/Jews. But he will not lead this or directly encourage it. Therefore it will be hard to fight. Peaceful marches will not counteract street riots. Its a frightful mess. I dont think too many people want to fight city hall so to speak.
I meant that he will do things like incite with "dog whistles" and then look the other way when the violence occurs. He'll also quietly purge Jews from positions of power and the like. If it reads like he's going to conduct himself literally like Hitler, then that's my fault. It wasn't my intention.
I do think he is uniquely hateful toward Jews. You can't be part of the movement he's part of without such hate.
Yes there will be a Nakba day parade in NYC on May, 15 2026. The participants will march down Fifth Avenue lamenting the creation of the State of Israel and committing to its final destruction and celebrating this dream. Yes the intifada will be organized and supported by NYC.
In November of 2026 when SJP organizes a riot at Columbia University, Mayor Mamdani will not call the NYPD to protect lives and property from the antisemitic mob.
In November of 2026 Mayor Mamdani will make a move to have NYC boycott, divest and sanction Israel: financially, academically and commercially.
Yes Mahmoud Khalil will be appointed by Mayor Mamdani to serve on The New York City Department of Education Panel for Educational Policy.
After November 2026, Zionists in NYC will be on their own. Maybe they will be able to call a social worker when the pogroms run wild because Mayor Mamdani has called for the defunding of the police force.
I dont see how to fight that. NY Jews who aren't on board with destroying Israel are going to leave if they can.
I think the anti-Corbyn model is best. We'll see if NY Jews can organize effectively for it. The great disadvantage is that American Jewish leaders are so useless.
I think useless is being extremely kind as we have seen over the past year and a half. Our best allies are gentile conservatives.
I agree with you. It's a maddening situation. I hope they all get tossed and replaced.
It boggles my mind how Brad Lander can collaborate with Zohran Mamdani. What a pathetic fool!
Could be the opposite. “
In the clearing stands a boxer
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of every glove that laid him down
Or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
"I am leaving, I am leaving"
But the fighter still remains” ( Paul Simon, The Boxer)
To anyone and all: if you have not already read it - this article is a plea to liberal Jews (emphasis liberal). If anyone can reach them, it may be some of the readers here. I'm guessing most readers here know this - but it may be worse than some surmise.
Liberal Jews, It's Time to Grow Up and Wake Up
C.A. Skeet | 9:00 AM on July 12, 2025
A couple of snippets -
"But any cursory understanding of history shows that antisemites don’t hate religious Jews. They hate Jews. They don’t hate Israeli Jews. They hate Jews. They don’t hate Republican Jews. They hate Jews."
"And polling shows that you still don’t see it. About 52% of American Jews think Donald Trump is antisemitic. Not Ilhan Omar. Not Rashida Tlaib. Not Zohran Mamdani. Donald Trump, the most pro-Israel, pro-Jewish president this nation has ever had, is considered by a majority* of American Jews to be prejudiced against them. And this poll wasn’t taken in 2016 or 2020. It was taken two months ago."
* My 'clarification'; 52% is a narrow majority that could be within sampling error.
The question remains, how can that number even be close to 50%?
The answer is willful denial. If they faced that the Democrats are becoming systemically antisemitic, the size of the betrayal would hit them like a freight train. They'd feel stupid, humiliated, angry, and ashamed. So they just pretend it isn't happening. It's the easiest and simplest solution.
A bad case of cognitive dissonance. I thinks it’s contagious.
My impression is those particular poll numbers of American Jews who are also Democrats, especially when also liberal, are not similar to those of the Jewish people of Israel. Would that be correct?
Israelis are extremely diverse politically, unlike American Jews. The consensus leans right at the moment, but there is a vast political spectrum from communists to far-right nationalists. There is no doubt, however, that the Israeli majority views the Republicans as far more sympathetic and trustworthy than the Democrats.
Thank you. I was curious
As I continue to check my email, I just came across this from INSS: "American Jews Are Divided on Trump’s Antisemitism Policy." by Theodore Sasson & Avishay Ben Sasson-Gordis. You already may have read this.
I am working a children’s book. My target audience is composed of the children who voted for Zohran Mamdani.
It’s a work in progress but it looks like I will have four years to complete it.
The working title is , “Yes my Darlings there are such things as Free Lunches”
Introduction
———————————-
“Socialism will disrupt and destroy the following for New Yorkers: Safety, Schools, Sanitation, Startups, Social services, Shelter, Subways, Streets, Shows, Shopping, Sidewalks, South Street Seaport, and Soho. From A for Arts to Z for Zoo Mamdani will screw NYC for me and for you.”
The movie script to work on is about Mamdani’s promise to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu. So Bibi arrives in NYC and Mayor Mamdani orders his arrest and Shin Bet has to face off against the NYPD. At this point Governor Stefanik or Governor Torres or Governor Hochul calls in the National Guard to intervene in the standoff that is unfolding on the Grand Central Parkway. If they fail to act President Trump will call in a special team of the United States Secret Service to fight along side the Shin Bet. Working title is, “Gracie Mansion Down”.
New Yorkers still have time to step back from the brink but I must agree with Benjamin Kerstein; Zohran Mamdani will win the keys to City Hall and drive the city into a massive wreck.
If I could write a letter as welcoming as George Washington once wrote, then I would have already done other wonderful things. Here, I shall be his courier: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-06-02-0135