Jewish educator Moshe Spern is accusing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of helping create a political climate that contributed to a recent Upper West Side stabbing, connecting the attack to the mayor’s controversial remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, no evidence has established that Mamdani’s comments caused or inspired the attack.
The accusation divided viewers, with some praising Spern for speaking out about antisemitism while others argued he was blaming Mamdani for the actions of an unrelated individual without evidence.
The person speaking in the video posted to X is Spern, a member of United Jewish Teachers, an organization representing Jewish educators and school staff in New York City. He delivered the remarks during a United Against Hate protest on the Upper West Side organized amid criticism of Mamdani’s recent comments about Netanyahu.
Specifically, Spern can be heard saying, “There are people who think we are crazy. There are people who think we are overreacting. There are people who think that a two-minute video has zero impact on Thursday.“
The controversy followed a video from Mamdani in which he called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and urged the federal government to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant. Mamdani acknowledged that New York City itself does not have the legal authority to execute the warrant.
Mamdani’s remarks drew criticism from some Jewish leaders and organizations who accused him of fueling antisemitism. Others have defended his comments as criticism of Netanyahu and the Israeli government’s conduct rather than Jewish people.
Throughout his remarks, Spern cited incidents that he believes demonstrate growing hostility toward Jewish New Yorkers. Part of the caption that is paired with the video reads, “Mamdani’s “war criminal” video didn’t just libel Jews, it helped create the climate that led to a stabbing on the Upper West Side of an Asian American and a Jewish American.” No evidence cited in the post establishes that Mamdani’s video motivated the stabbing or that the suspect acted because of the mayor’s remarks.
Moshe Spern’s Accusation Against Mamdani Divides Viewers
The comments were divided, with a majority of people firmly against what Moshe Spern had to say. One person commented, “Do you ever get tired of being an insufferable cry baby?” To this, Spern replied with, “You ever get tired of being a self hating Jew?“
Other viewers rejected the idea that Mamdani’s criticism of Netanyahu amounted to antisemitism. In a separate online discussion surrounding the controversy, one commenter wrote, “If calling Netanyahu a war criminal is hate speech, then just ban me now.” Others similarly argued that criticism of Netanyahu and the Israeli government’s actions should not automatically be treated as hostility toward Jewish people.
On the other hand, there were also users who were on Spern’s side, with one user commenting, “Thank you for your bravery in standing up and speaking out….“
Spern’s remarks reflect the increasingly bitter debate surrounding Mamdani’s criticism of Netanyahu, but his most serious accusation remains unproven. While some supporters believe the mayor’s rhetoric contributes to hostility toward Jewish New Yorkers, others argue that criticism of an Israeli political leader should not be treated as responsibility for an unrelated act of violence.
