Leaders are using students as “protest pawns,” critics say.

September 15, 2026

The schools appear to have been careful not to refer to the event as a “protest,” describing it in their communications as a “communal prayer” and a “student-led communal Shacharit.” Their messaging about the reason for the demonstration, too, has been vague. The emails viewed by Jewish Currents do not mention Mamdani’s criticism of Israel or his condemnation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the two major points of tension between the mayor and the Jewish establishment.

Despite the cautious tone, it is hard to read this mustering of day-school students outside Gracie Mansion as anything other than an act of protest against Mamdani, and an implicit charge that he poses a particular threat to observant Jews in the city. “It is time for us to stand up and be heard,” the email to Ramaz parents read. “It is time to show up proudly as Jews, as New Yorkers, and as Zionists.”

  • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de
    23·
    14 days ago

    Its not news that lots of jewish schools and clubs are Israeli aligned indoctrination machines. There are a few good documentaries out there just about this topic. This is on the low end of the outrage bar actually, they do way worse stuff like trying to recruit kids straight from US schools into the IDF.