WILLIAMSBURG — The Satmar Rebbe, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, strongly condemned the campaign of “attacks” against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during his major annual Drasha marking the yahrzeit of the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Yoel Teitelbaum Zatzal, on Sunday.

Speaking to one of the largest annual gatherings of the Satmar community, the Rebbe warned that rhetoric directed against NYC Mayor Mamdani by members of the Jewish community violates the traditional Torah approach to relations with government and risks provoking hostility toward Jews.

“Recently, we have witnessed a terrible provocation against the nations by heimishe Yidden — through the incitement against the Mayor of New York City,” the Rebbe said in his speech.

Citing the Navi Yirmiyahu’s instruction to the Jewish people to seek the peace of the city in which they live and to Daven on its behalf, the Rebbe said Frum Jews must conduct themselves according to the Torah’s guidance for Jewish life in Galus.

“We must remember that we are in Galus,” the Rebbe said. “The Navi Yirmiyahu instructed the Yidden: ‘Seek the peace of the city to which I have exiled you, and Daven to Hashem on its behalf.’ An observant Jew must follow the Torah’s path and accept the decree of exile”, the Rebbe added.

The Rebbe specifically condemned efforts to denounce Mayor Mamdani and brand him as an Antisemite.

He said: “To denounce the mayor and brand him an antisemite constitutes a true provocation against the nations (Hisgaarus Ba’umos)”, “As though the provocation against the nations taking place in Eretz Yisroel were not enough, they are now bringing it here to the United States as well.”

The Rebbe concluded by urging Jewish families to guard their homes against publications and messages influenced by “Zionist ideology.”

The Drasha was delivered on the 47th yahrzeit of the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Yoel Teitelbaum, who reestablished the Satmar community in the United States following the Holocaust and became one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the twentieth century. Opposition to Zionism and adherence to traditional Torah principles governing Jewish life in Galus were central foundations of his teachings.