In a significant political development, Rabbi Moshe Indig, a prominent leader of the Ahronim faction within the Satmar Hasidic community, publicly endorsed Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Sunday. The endorsement, announced at a gathering in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, comes just two days before the mayoral election and has sparked both support and controversy within the Haredi community. Rabbi Indig, who previously backed former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the primaries, described Mamdani as “a very nice guy, very humble” and emphasized his commitment to working with all communities in New York City. However, Mamdani’s critical stance on Israel has alienated some Orthodox leaders, creating divisions within the Jewish electorate. A recent Quinnipiac poll revealed that 60% of Jewish voters favor Cuomo, while only 16% support Mamdani. The endorsement has also faced pushback from other leaders within the Ahronim faction, with three prominent figures declaring their support for Cuomo shortly after Rabbi Indig’s announcement. The Satmar Hasidic community, with over 57,000 members in Williamsburg and 300,000 globally, wields significant political influence, often voting as a bloc. Historically, the Ahronim faction has demonstrated its political clout by endorsing winning candidates, including Bill de Blasio in 2013 and Eric Adams in 2021. Meanwhile, the Zalis faction, another major group within the Satmar community, has chosen not to endorse any candidate but has distanced itself from anti-Mamdani campaigns. The Satmar community’s anti-Zionist stance, rooted in religious beliefs, further complicates the political landscape, as they oppose the existence of Israel before the arrival of the messiah and its secular nature.
Mamdani earns endorsement from influential Orthodox-Jewish community leader in NYC
