The Lie:
- A synagogue event about Jews immigrating to Israel is “illegal” and helps “promote violations of international law.”
The Truth:
- Helping Jews immigrate to Israel is legal. Targeting and intimidating Jews at a synagogue is not.
Background:
- On Nov 19, 2025, Park East Synagogue hosted an event by Nefesh B’Nefesh, an organization that facilitates immigration to Israel for North American Jews.
- Anti-Israel protesters gathered outside the synagogue, directing chants toward Jews participating in an informational event about immigrating to Israel.
- Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani condemned the Jews inside the synagogue—not the mob outside.
Truth: Explained
- On Nov 19, protesters surrounded Park East Synagogue, shouting “make them scared,” “globalize the intifada,” and “take another settler out,” directly targeting Jews attending a basic immigration-information event. https://www.city-journal.org/article/new-york-park-east-synagogue-protest-zohran-mamdani
- While Mamdani’s office said he “discouraged the language used at last night’s protest,” his spokesperson’s only concrete accusation targeted the Jews inside the synagogue — alleging their aliyah event “promot[ed] activities in violation of international law.”https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-874702?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Mamdani’s claim is legally baseless and dangerously inverted.
City Journal notes this “bizarre theory” would turn Jews exploring aliyah into criminals while excusing those intimidating them outside a house of worship.
https://www.city-journal.org/article/new-york-park-east-synagogue-protest-zohran-mamdani - Immigrating to another country is a fundamental civil right — and for many Jews, choosing Israel is also tied to religious freedom and communal identity. The Park East event was simply an informational session for Jews considering a legal move. That’s why Mamdani’s response — downplaying the mob outside while accusing the Jews inside of “promot[ing] activities in violation of international law” — was so troubling. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-874702
- Nefesh B’Nefesh is an immigration-support NGO—not a political or territorial actor.
It helps new immigrants with visas, healthcare enrollment, school registration, and job placement. It does not buy, sell, or broker land; does not engage in real estate; and promotes no geographic or political agenda.
https://x.com/HenMazzig - Aliyah is not illegal under any UN resolution, ICJ opinion, or treaty.
Even the UN, known to be hostile to Israeli policy, has never once claimed Jewish immigration violates international law. The Oct 2024 UN COI statement concerns state obligations (diplomatic recognition, military aid). It says nothing about private immigration or NGOs. https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/10/1151097 - International law explicitly recognized the legality of Jewish immigration.
The 1922 League of Nations Mandate required the Mandatory to facilitate Jewish immigration. Article 80 of the UN Charter preserved those rights. No later UN action nullified them. https://jcfa.org/article/the-state-of-israels-legal-right-to-judea-and-samaria/
Quotes
- “Paperwork has now become a war crime. He (Mamdani) didn’t condemn the mob outside—he blamed the Jews inside.” – Hen Mazzig
- “The idea that the mayor of New York should try to enforce the edicts of the U.N. or other international bodies is a bizarre theory heretofore unfamiliar to New York City politics.” – City Journal
- “We call on Mayor-elect Mamdani to think deeply and do better in meeting his responsibility to keep Jews and Jewish institutions safe in this time of elevated danger.” – Official joint statement (URJ / UJA-Federation / JCRC)
Takeaway
Immigration isn’t the crime here; the harassment outside the synagogue was. Keep the focus where it belongs.
