A new controversy is brewing in New York after Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled the members of his new advisory committee on judicial appointments, describing it as a body that reflects the city’s diversity. Critics quickly pointed to one notable omission: none of the committee’s 18 members are Jewish, despite Jews making up roughly 10% of New York City’s population and a significant share of its legal community, according to The New York Times.
Following the announcement, four Jewish bar associations sent a sharply worded letter to the mayor protesting the committee’s composition. They argued that not a single Jewish attorney, former judge, or other Jewish legal professional was appointed, despite City Hall’s pledge to create a body that reflects the city’s diverse communities.
The organizations also criticized the rejection of retired Judge John Leventhal, whom they had recommended for the committee. City Hall said Leventhal was not selected because he represented Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s associate, during her appeal.
Claims of Exclusion
Leventhal said he was never given an official explanation for why his nomination was rejected, stressing that representing criminal defendants is a fundamental part of the legal profession.
“There should be at least one Jewish representative on the committee,” he said, adding that he hopes the exclusion was not intentional.
Mamdani’s spokesperson did not dispute that the committee has no Jewish members but rejected allegations of discrimination. The spokesperson said the mayor has appointed judges from a wide range of backgrounds, including Jewish judges, and insisted that “any claim that the decision was made based on religious considerations is false.”
Ongoing Tensions and Attacks Against Israel
The controversy comes amid a series of clashes between Mamdani and New York’s Jewish community.
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani vowed that he would seek to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if legally able. Just last week, he released another video criticizing Israel, saying the only thing preventing him from pursuing Netanyahu’s arrest was U.S. law.
Mamdani has also repeatedly refused to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada,” arguing that it should not automatically be interpreted as a call for violence—a stance that drew widespread condemnation from Jewish organizations. He has further faced criticism over his support for the BDS movement and his opposition to legislation aimed at combating antisemitism.
For many of Mamdani’s critics, the absence of a single Jewish member on a committee created to represent New York’s diversity is not an isolated oversight, but the latest chapter in a pattern that has steadily eroded confidence within one of the city’s largest and most influential communities.