Mamdani Celebrates Hanukkah in Video with Mandy Patinkin

New York — A video released Saturday shows Zohran Mamdani, the anti-Zionist activist who is poised to become New York City's next mayor, celebrating Hanukkah with Mandy Patinkin and members of the actor's family at Patinkin's Manhattan home. Filmed on the first night of Hanukkah last week, the roughly three-and-a-half-minute clip depicts Mamdani helping to make latkes, reciting Hebrew prayers, and lighting candles beside Patinkin, his wife Kathryn Grody, and their son Gideon. The footage was posted on Mamdani's X account and distributed across his social media channels, drawing mixed reactions from followers and observers alike.

Mamdani is shown arriving at the Patinkin residence in what appears to be a staged greeting, with the actor playing the role of gracious host. In the clip, Mamdani participates in latke preparation, takes part in a Hebrew prayer, and lights candles as the scene centers on a home holiday gathering. Patinkin and Grody share smiles and engage with Mamdani and his guest — a moment that culminates with a blessing-like finish as the group sits down to eat.

The video comes as Mamdani's political profile has drawn scrutiny for his outspoken anti-Israel views and his relationship with New York City's Jewish community, which has long debated how to engage with him as an ally and critic on various policy issues. Patinkin, a longtime figure in Broadway and American Jewish culture, has broad visibility in the city and beyond, making the gathering noteworthy for observers watching how public figures manage cultural moments in a politically charged landscape.

Mamdani posted on X that the Hanukkah segment was a moment of light and inclusion, and he highlighted the timing on the first night of Hanukkah. The post underscored his effort to present a different side of his public persona, one that intersects with Jewish ceremonial life regardless of his anti-Zionist positions. The choice of a public figure like Patinkin and a well-known Jewish household has amplified the conversation about how politicians relate to ethnic and religious communities in a diverse metropolis.

Reaction on social media has been mixed. Some followers praised the moment as a sign of outreach and common ground in a city divided by political and cultural fault lines. Others criticized the clip as staged or performative, arguing that it is designed to signal solidarity with the Jewish community while remaining consistent with a stance that many see as anti-Israel. The discussion reflects ongoing tensions in New York politics as the mayor-elect and his allies navigate questions of legitimacy, outreach, and cultural diplomacy.

Contextualizing the moment, observers note that Mamdani's anti-Zionist stance has made him a polarizing figure within New York's Jewish communities, complicating how such public gestures are interpreted in a city with a sizable and diverse Jewish population. Patinkin's involvement adds a high-profile dimension to a Holiday-season occurrence that, in political terms, sits at the intersection of culture, identity, and policy debate. The video, taken the prior week and released during Hanukkah's observed seventh night in some calendars, underscores how celebrations can become focal points for public diplomacy and political narrative in a city where culture and politics are deeply intertwined.

The episode arrives as Mamdani prepares to assume office amid ongoing discussions about outreach strategies and the role of cultural moments in governing. Analysts say that while public displays of cross-community engagement can broaden a leader's appeal, they can also invite scrutiny when the underlying political positions of the figures involved remain contentious. In this case, the video contributes to a broader conversation about how elected officials with anti-Israel views navigate relationships with Jewish communities and how they frame the city’s diverse cultural life within a fraught geopolitical context.