Mamdani Embraces Trans Ideology and Anti-Israel Allies

Alexander Grey, Unsplash

A self-described “transgender rabbi” is again drawing controversy, this time for starring in Zohran Mamdani’s new mayoral campaign ad. Abby Stein, a biological male assuming a female name, who previously made headlines for being removed from a White House Pride event after heckling officials over Israel, is now the public face of Mamdani’s latest outreach to Jewish voters. 

According to the New York Post, the “Jews for Zohran” ad features Stein alongside three other self-identified rabbis voicing support for Mamdani’s campaign. The ad’s narrator claims, “We know Zohran will fight to make our city affordable and safe for our families.” But the inclusion of Stein, who has accused Israel of committing “genocide” and called for “a permanent cease-fire,” has renewed questions about Mamdani’s alliances and his stance toward the Jewish state. 

A Conflicted Figure in the Spotlight 

Stein’s background has long been a source of attention. Once a member of Brooklyn’s Hasidic community, he left that world and later began publicly identifying as transgender. In recent years, he has become a political activist known for mixing religious language with left-wing advocacy. 

His rise to prominence has also come with controversy. The Washington Free Beacon reported that Stein was “booted from the Biden White House’s Pride event” after shouting during the president’s speech. The same article noted that Stein “has called Israel’s war against Hamas a ‘moral abomination’ and has accused Jewish groups of complicity in genocide.” 

Despite that history, Stein now headlines Mamdani’s campaign message as a symbol of inclusion. The Coalition for Jewish Values wrote that Mamdani is “deploying transgender activist Abby Stein in a TV ad to help close the deal with New York voters,” calling the move “a calculated effort to use religious titles to mask political extremism.” 

WATCH:

The Free Beacon tracked down the “rabbis” from Zohran Mamdani’s new “Jews for Zohran” ad campaign.

You won’t believe it, but one of them, “Rabbi” Abby Stein, is a transgender rabbi who was booted from a Biden White House shindig for disrupting the event with demands to… pic.twitter.com/TLV0h0KvMA

— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) October 28, 2025

From White House Removal to Political Messaging 

Stein’s partnership with Mamdani is raising new alarm within Jewish and pro-Israel circles. His public record includes outspoken criticism of Israel and defense of organizations known for anti-Zionist activism. In the New York Post, Stein is described as someone who “regularly posts anti-Israel messages” and who “was once kicked out of the White House for heckling President Biden.” 

The Coalition for Jewish Values summarized his role in Mamdani’s campaign as part of a broader pattern of left-wing political theater, noting that he “has long criticized Israel and traditional Judaism” but is now being presented as a faith leader. 

Mamdani himself is a Democratic Socialist and outspoken critic of Israel’s government. His decision to elevate Stein in campaign messaging underscores his alignment with activists who view Israel through the lens of oppression rather than sovereignty, a stance many Jewish New Yorkers see as out of step with the city’s values. 

The Broader Political Concern 

New York City is home to more than a million Jews, many of whom have close family or community ties to Israel. That reality makes Mamdani’s decision to feature Stein, a figure best known for condemning Israel on national platforms, especially polarizing. 

The Post reported that Stein was “previously removed from a White House event” and that he now “leads a group that opposes Israel’s military actions.” The ad’s release has sparked backlash from religious organizations who view the move as both cynical and insulting. 

The Coalition for Jewish Values described Mamdani’s use of Stein as part of a broader campaign strategy “to normalize hostility toward Israel under the cover of faith.” Their statement argues that the use of clerical titles by activists like Stein “erodes public trust in genuine religious leadership.” 

At a time when antisemitic incidents in New York remain high, Mamdani’s choice of messenger is raising questions about what kind of leadership he represents, and whether his campaign’s version of “inclusivity” excludes those who stand with Israel. 

The controversy over Abby Stein’s role in Mamdani’s campaign highlights a deeper issue within the city’s political left: the blending of personal identity with radical politics. While Mamdani and Stein frame their alliance as a symbol of diversity, many see it as an effort to rebrand anti-Israel sentiment as moral virtue. 

For New York voters, the question is not merely about faith or representation. It’s about integrity, and whether those seeking to lead the city can tell the difference between authentic leadership and calculated activism. 

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