NEW YORK (VINnews) — Rabbi Moishe Indig, a prominent political figure in the Satmar Ahronim community, is offering an unusually candid explanation of his decision to endorse Zohran Mamdani, arguing that community leaders must face political reality rather than ignore the candidate who is positioned to lead New York City.

In an explosive, nearly three-hour Yiddish-language interview with popular Jewish singer Shmueli Unger on his ShmueliCast podcast, Indig goes into considerable detail about the thinking behind his endorsement, his interactions with Mamdani and the political calculations that led him to support the candidate despite the controversy surrounding his positions.

Indig’s endorsement sparked a firestorm within the Satmar community, drawing sharp criticism from prominent religious and community leaders who opposed his support for Mamdani and instead backed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

At the heart of Indig’s explanation is what he sees as the need to confront political reality. Mamdani had emerged as the leading candidate and was widely projected to win the mayoral election. Indig believed that community leaders could not afford to ignore that reality and needed to establish relationships with the person who was likely to become the city’s next mayor.

That calculation ultimately proved correct. Mamdani defeated Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the November 2025 election, becoming New York City’s first Muslim mayor.

Throughout the interview, Indig discusses why he believes political engagement must extend beyond ideological differences. He argues that community leaders have a responsibility to communicate with elected officials, build relationships and secure practical results for the people they represent.

Drawing on his own background in business and community organizing, Indig discusses the importance of management, leadership and understanding the everyday challenges facing families. Among the issues raised are housing affordability, grocery prices, public services and the needs of the Orthodox Jewish community.

The conversation also turns to antisemitism, the Oct. 7 attacks, Israel and the broader political climate. Indig discusses the challenges of navigating relationships with politicians whose positions may differ sharply from those of the Jewish community.

The interview, titled “He Endorsed Mamdani… But Not for the Reason You Think,” provides an extended look at the reasoning behind Indig’s controversial decision and the political strategy he believes community leaders must adopt.

ShmueliCast, hosted by Shmueli Unger, features long-form conversations with personalities from the Orthodox Jewish community, covering politics, business, communal affairs and personal stories.