In contrast to global Muslim leaders who are speaking out against the Iranian regime, there has been a striking silence from some who claim to speak on behalf of the Muslim world, namely, Mamdani.
As we usher in the Passover festival, let us recognize its central theme of interdependence, which extends beyond the Jewish community. This is about the future and the well-being of all humankind.
“Let all who are hungry come and eat.” This invitation, as part of the Hagaddah, ensures the inclusion of the poor and the stranger in the Passover celebration.
Passover and its Talmudic traditions emphasize human interdependence, transforming the historical exodus into an ethical imperative to care for the vulnerable and to include the stranger.
Judaism and Islam remind us that humanity is one family created by God. That shared belief has guided decades of interfaith engagement and has brought Muslim and Jewish leaders closer together in ways once thought impossible.
The past month, Iran has launched missiles and drones targeting countries across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait, nations that have worked to promote regional stability and, in some cases, historic engagement with Israel.
Yet amid these developments, in contrast to global Muslim leaders who are speaking out against the Iranian regime, there has been a striking silence from some who claim to speak on behalf of the Muslim world. In particular, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
No public figure can credibly claim to speak for the Muslim world while selectively amplifying alleged injustices and downplaying others, especially Iran’s aggression against Muslim nations and its own people.
Since his swearing-in, Mamdani has not taken me up on my offer to meet with Gulf leaders and better understand their evolving relationship with Israel and the American Jewish community.
For decades, I have had the privilege of working closely with leaders across the Muslim world, from Bahrain and the UAE to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. I have sat in royal palaces, mosques, and conference rooms with those who are committed to building a future defined not by conflict but by cooperation. I have seen firsthand a growing recognition that Muslim and Jewish communities share not only common values but common interests.
These Gulf countries are not adversaries of the Muslim world. They are central to its future. And I have never met a representative of his faith like Mamdani who is so out of touch with global Muslim leaders.
Iran’s actions make this distinction clear. Its missiles do not differentiate between sects or borders. They threaten Muslim civilians, global energy infrastructure, and the fragile stability that so many in the region have worked to build. They also expose a deeper truth: Iran’s campaign is not about defending Muslims. It is about asserting control.
A failure of moral clarity
As Gulf nations are targeted, silence from those who claim to represent Muslim voices globally is not neutrality. It is a failure of moral clarity.
This moment demands honesty about the realities of the Middle East today. Muslim leaders are choosing dialogue over division, partnership over polarization, and coexistence over conflict.
Others seek to undermine that progress through violence and intimidation.
To ignore that divide is to misunderstand the region. To speak as though the Muslim world has a single voice is to erase the millions of Muslims who stand firmly against Iran’s aggression.
Today, our shared faith is confronting a shared threat. Our common faith has brought us together. Iran’s aggression now reminds us that we share a common fate.
Israel is fighting for its survival against a regime pursuing nuclear capabilities while openly calling for “death to America” and “death to the West.” That same regime is targeting Muslim nations across the Gulf. It is time for the mayor of New York City to stand in solidarity with Muslim leaders who eschew antisemitic tropes, such as “genocide” and “occupation,” and are committed to a new and broader regional alignment in the Middle East.
The writer is the president of The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and the founding senior rabbi at The Hampton Synagogue.