At the 33rd annual Downtown Seder held at City Winery in Manhattan on Monday night, Israeli-American comedian Modi Rosenfeld withdrew from the event after learning that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani would be participating [1]. Rosenfeld's team announced via social media that they were unaware of Mamdani's attendance until the day of the event, prompting Rosenfeld to cancel his performance [1]. Israeli musician David Broza, who was also invited, attended and performed 'If I Had a Hammer' [1].
The news of Mamdani's attendance sparked controversy among the Jewish community, with comedian Elon Gold publicly urging both Rosenfeld and Broza to cancel their participation, stating, 'This isn’t showing solidarity. It’s a betrayal of what we as a people are fighting and dying for' [1]. Leo Veiga, Rosenfeld's manager and husband, clarified that they had no prior knowledge of Mamdani's involvement [1].
Michael Dorf, the event host and owner of City Winery, addressed the controversy in a Substack post, expressing regret over Rosenfeld's withdrawal and emphasizing the event's purpose of fostering unity and dialogue. Dorf wrote, 'For 33 years, the purpose of this pre-Passover Seder has been to bring people together, not tear them apart,' and called for attendees to 'stay, listen, and maybe find common ground' [1].
Mayor Mamdani attended the event and delivered remarks described by Dorf as 'a heartfelt message' [1]. Despite the controversy, the event proceeded with Broza's performance and Dorf's appeal for unity.
CONCLUSION
The withdrawal of Modi Rosenfeld from the Downtown Seder highlights tensions within the Jewish community regarding Mayor Mamdani's participation. While the event continued with calls for unity and dialogue, the controversy underscores ongoing divisions and sensitivities around public figures and community events.