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Rapaport Blasts Mamdani at Jewish Gathering Outside Gracie Mansion
Actor Michael Rapaport called Mayor Zohran Mamdani the most divisive mayor in New York City history during a Jewish school gathering outside Gracie Mansion, as students from SAR and Ramaz gathered to pray and sing two days before Yom Kippur.
Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a Jewish gathering outside Gracie Mansion on Friday, calling him «the most divisive mayor in the history of this city by far» and «a two-bit con man.» Rapaport also directed personal attacks at the mayor's wife, describing her as an antisemite, a racist, and homophobic.
The gathering was organized by students from SAR Academy, Ramaz, and other Jewish schools, who stood on East 88th Street to pray, sing, and hear brief remarks before returning to class two days before Yom Kippur. Rabbi Binyamin Krauss, principal of SAR Academy, explained in a piece published by The Times of Israel that the event was intended to teach students that «you belong in this city, and when Jews feel unsafe we gather, and we pray, out loud.» He described the act of showing up as a civic act protected by the Constitution.
Mayor Mamdani, when asked earlier in the week about the planned gathering, said he welcomed it. «They can have a vigil, or I've heard some describe it even as a protest,» he said, adding that participants would have room and space outside Gracie Mansion. He noted he would likely be elsewhere in the city during the event. His office referred to those remarks when asked for comment on Friday.
Rapaport, who has been vocal in his support of Jewish causes, said he is «absolutely considering running for mayor» but left open the possibility of backing another candidate who would have a better chance of winning. The next mayoral election in New York City is in 2029.
Near the gathering, individuals who appeared to be Jewish counter-protesters expressed anti-Israel sentiments. They held signs reading «Mayor Mamdani A Friend of Jews While Opposing Israeli Crimes» and «Anti-Zionism Is NOT Anti-Semitism.»
The event highlighted ongoing tensions in New York City over the mayor's stance on Israel and his relationship with the Jewish community. Rabbi Krauss emphasized that students love both the city and Israel and see no contradiction between the two. The gathering served as a public expression of Jewish identity and solidarity ahead of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
