Synagogue protest group to hold 2 rallies this week, in potential challenge for Mamdani

An anti-Zionist activist group that held a caustic protest outside a synagogue in November announces two similar demonstrations this week, in a potential challenge for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s new administration.

The November protest, at Park East Synagogue in Manhattan, targeted an event held by Nefesh B’nefesh, a group that facilitates immigration to Israel.

The rally was organized by the activist group Pal-Awda and saw demonstrators hurl threats and discriminatory epithets toward Jews.

Pal-Awda announces two protests for this week — one against a Nefesh B’nefesh event tomorrow, and another against an Israel real estate event on Thursday.

The group says it will announce the locations on the day of the protests and it’s unclear if the rallies will take place at synagogues.

If the protests take place at synagogues and the Mamdani administration opts for a permissive approach to the protesters, it will likely anger mainstream Jewish groups, with whom Mamdani is already at odds. If authorities are more firm in their handling of the protests, it will likely upset Mamdani’s far-left base.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said earlier today she will implement a policy establishing “safety zones” around houses of worship, but that policy will not be in place by the time of the protests.