New York City: A Tale of Two Rabbis
New York City: A Tale of Two Rabbis & What It Means to Be a Proud American Jews
Recently two leading Rabbinic voices in New York City spoke loudly and boldly. Their comments have reverberated throughout the American and global Jewish communities. Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of Central Synagogue led her congregation on the Shabbat following the release of the living Israeli hostages in ceremonially folding and placing the flag of the State of Israel in the congregation’s Aron Kodesh as a way in which the congregation could ritually transition to new realities of healing after the last two years. The flag had been displayed on the synagogue’s Bimah since October 7, 2023, as a symbol of solidarity with and commitment to the safe return of the Israeli hostages. The Israel flag had not previously been placed on the Bimah and it was never the Rabbi’s intention for the Israel flag to be permanently displayed. During her Rosh Hashanah sermon this same year she spoke as to how the flag had become a polarizing symbol for many in the Jewish community.
Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of the Park Avenue Synagogue delivered a significant sermon on a recent Shabbat morning that Zohran Mamdani, the Democrat candidate for Mayor of New York City, was “a danger to the security of the New York Jewish community.” In his bold, critical and direct statement Cosgrove criticized Mamdani for distinguishing between accepting Jews and denying the existence of a Jewish state claiming that Mamdani “traffic(s) in the most dangerous of tropes” that is a disingenuous distinction that plays into antisemitic tropes. Rabbi Cosgrove said that Mamdani’s repeated efforts to delegitimize Israel amount to a personal attack on his identity as a Jew, an American and an American Jew. He warned his congregants (and the wider American Jewish community through social media posts of his sermon) that a vote for Mamdani would be “a vote counter to Jewish interests.”
And so, the tale of two Rabbis from New York City. One who boldly calls an American politician a threat to Jews while proudly standing up for Jews and Israel. One who is clearly very proud of her Jewish identity, Israel and Zionism but who feels that the flag of the State of Israel is “polarizing” and who places that same flag as a relic to the confines of the Aron Kodesh.
True, the flag with its two blue stripes and Magen David is the official flag of the State of Israel. However, it does not represent nor endorse a particular Israeli Prime Minister, government or policy. It represents Am Israel, the People of the State of Israel. It has also become much more ever since the founding of the modern State of Israel in 1948. For 77 years and even before, the Israel flag has become one of the most important symbols of Amcha, the Jewish people worldwide. It represents Jewish identity, pride and honor. In an era in which Jews, most especially our young and impressionable children and young adults, seek to hide their Jewish identity by not outwardly wearing Jewish symbols such as a Magen David or Chai, affix a Mezuzah to a dorm room door or wear a T-shirt with the Israel flag in public why would a widely respected and regarded Rabbi choose to place that very flag in the Aron Kodesh? Granted, the Ark contains the Torah scrolls, too, and they are not relics. True. However, they are taken out and read every Monday, Thursday, Shabbat and Yom Tov. The Israel flag was placed in the Ark to mark a new ritual and transition; and not to be seen again. Perhaps Rabbi Buchdahl will reconsider her decision and instead take the Israel flag from the Aron Kodesh, frame it beautifully and appropriately display it inside the synagogue with an explanation as to how and why the flag is prominently displayed as a remembrance of October 7th and both our living and dead hostages.
Rabbi Cosgrove in making his sermon demonstrated clear, passionate and rationale leadership. His remarks were not merely words of concern and caution, nor rabbinic teaching. They were an important awakening and urgent call to action. He did not simply assuage his congregants’ feelings and concerns. He appropriately challenged them to do something about them for the sake of Amcha and Israel. He also made a very important and direct point that it was not enough for his congregants to hear his words. It was his imperative that they spread the word widely and beyond the Jewish community. He used his Rabbinate and pulpit to extoll bold and persuasive action. He demonstrated the moral courage to use his Bimah as the place where he “blew” the Shofar to awaken the Jewish community to action.
And so, the tale of two Rabbi from New York City. I know the sanctuary I would choose to sit in this Shabbat and the rabbi I would listen to.
