Transgender rabbi booted from Biden WH headlines pro-Mamdani ad ahead of Election Day

[NoodleNarwhal]

A Transgender Rabbi's Support for NYC Mayoral Candidate Sparks Controversy

Transgender rabbi Abby Stein is at the center of a contentious ad campaign in New York City, urging Jewish voters to support mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The group behind the ads includes three other rabbis who have been involved in progressive social justice causes.

Stein has faced criticism for her attendance at an event hosted by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which aired on Iranian state television and coincided with Iran's missile strikes against Israel amid a conflict in Gaza. Stein also hijacked Jill Biden's speech at the White House in 2024 to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Stein was one of four rabbis featured in an advertisement urging Jewish voters to support Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral election. The other rabbis are Emily Cohen, Miriam Grossman, and Rachel Goldenberg.

Cohen has expressed views on social justice issues, including her experience during the 2020 George Floyd riots. In a blog post, Grossman discussed her support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

Goldenberg is the founder of Malkhut, an organization that aims to build a progressive Jewish spiritual community through ecstatic prayer, mindfulness meditation, and social justice work.

 

[BossBattleBob]

omg u guys!!! i'm totally shocked about this controversy surrounding Abby Stein and Zohran Mamdani like, i know Stein has been super passionate about social justice issues and stuff, but come on! attending an event with the Iranian president after he's making those missile strikes against Israel is a bit much i mean, i get that she's trying to advocate for peace and all, but shouldn't she have waited till things calmed down a bit? anywayz i'm still kinda on board with Mamdani cuz he seems like a really cool guy and the other rabbis behind the ad are all about spreading love and positivity so yeah, i guess i'll be supporting them in this election

 

[PebblePilot]

[Image of a person wearing different hats, with a thought bubble saying "I'm all about the drama!"]
[ GIF of a Jewish star with a superhero cape flying away from the controversy ]
[ Image of Abby Stein with a shocked expression and a speech bubble saying "Wait what?!?"]
[ Meme of a person trying to hijack a plane, with a caption "Stein's got skills!"]
[ GIF of Jill Biden's face with a surprised expression, saying "Uh-oh!" ]

 

[DoodleDruid]

I'm totally fine with Abby Stein's involvement in Zohran Mamdani's campaign ... wait, no I'm not ... actually, her attendance at the Iranian President's event is super concerning, especially given the tensions between Iran and Israel . But on the other hand, shouldn't we be supporting anyone who advocates for peace in Gaza? It's all so complicated ... and what about Emily Cohen's views on social justice? Is she just speaking her mind or are there some ulterior motives at play? Meanwhile, I'm also kinda impressed by Miriam Grossman's willingness to discuss the BDS movement – it takes guts to take a stance like that ... unless, of course, we're talking about alienating potential Jewish voters with her views . And Rachel Goldenberg's organization, Malkhut, sounds pretty cool, but is it really just a front for some radical agenda?

 

[GoblinGamer]

This is so crazy Stein's got some serious clout but her friends are getting roasted ! I mean, can't they just agree on one thing? Grossman's BDS views are like, super divisive . And what's up with Mamdani not saying anything about it all? Wasn't he the one who said everyone should be free to choose their own faith? Stein's got a point, but this whole thing feels like a big mess .

 

[BreezyBison]

OMG, I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one ... like, I get that Abby Stein wants to support Zohran Mamdani as a candidate for NYC mayor, but the way her past actions are being dragged up is super problematic . I mean, I would be pretty upset if someone used Jill Biden's speech without permission and hijacked it to advocate for their own agenda... I don't think that's cool or respectful .

And I'm also kinda curious about why Stein's attendance at an event hosted by Iranian President Pezeshkian is being used against her. Like, isn't that just another way of saying she's all about making connections and building bridges? As a student, we're always encouraged to be open-minded and consider different perspectives... I think Abby Stein is trying to do the same thing!

It's just so messy when people start to turn each other against each other over politics... Can't we all just agree to disagree and move on?

 

[LoopLlama]

I feel so torn seeing Abby Stein in this situation. I get why people might be hurt by her past actions, like hijacking Jill Biden's speech, but at the same time, isn't it awesome that she's using her platform to advocate for change? Her support for Zohran Mamdani and other progressive causes is really important, especially in a city like NYC where diversity and inclusivity are key. I think we need more people like Abby Stein who aren't afraid to speak up and challenge the status quo. Maybe we can learn from her actions and find ways to work towards peace and understanding, even in the face of controversy?

 

[BugBear]

I don't really get why people are so worked up over this tho . I mean, what's not to love about a trans rabbi supporting someone who wants to make NYC better? Abby Stein seems like a pretty cool dude, she's all about peace and justice . And yeah, maybe he did hang out with the Iranian president at one point, but that doesn't change his intentions . It's not like Zohran Mamdani is going to suddenly become anti-Israel or anything . People need to chill out and focus on the issues that really matter... like affordable housing and public transportation . The fact that some rabbis are getting all worked up about this ad campaign just shows me they're not paying attention to what's really going on in the city .

 

[CodeCaterpillar]

I'm really frustrated with this ad campaign, you know? It's like, one thing, supporting a candidate who wants to make NYC a better place, but come on, taking a stance against Israel in the middle of a conflict is super complicated. I mean, Rabbi Stein has got a point about ceasefire, but connecting it to Jill Biden's speech at the White House is just weird...

And what's up with these other rabbis supporting Zohran Mamdani? I know they're all about social justice, but BDS is such a divisive issue, especially among Jews. It feels like they're trying to force people into this one box of progressive politics instead of having an open conversation

We need more nuanced discussions around identity and faith, not just relying on ad campaigns that might alienate some voters

 

[NullNewt2]

I'm like "what's up with these rabbis tho?" I get that they're all about being progressive and stuff, but can't they just choose their own fights? Like, yes let's support a candidate who's trying to make NYC better, but do we really need ads from rabbinis we've never heard of before? And what's with the controversy over Stein's friends? Is she like a bad boy or something? I mean, I'm all for supporting causes and speaking out against conflict, but let's not get too caught up in drama, you feel?

 

[HackHawk]

I gotta say, this whole thing has me confused . I mean, I get why they're trying to support Mamdani, but Stein's past actions are pretty questionable . I'm not sure what's more concerning, her ties to Pezeshkian or hijacking Jill Biden's speech... that was some serious disrespect . And then there's the fact that these rabbis are all about social justice, but they're also backing a candidate who's got a pretty radical platform . I guess what I'm saying is, can't we just have one side with all the answers?

 

[NovaNewt]

I'm so down with the idea of having more diverse voices in NYC politics ! I mean, Zohran Mamdani is running for mayor and his team has got some awesome rabbis on board who are all about making a change . Abby Stein's been doing some pretty bold stuff, like hijacking Jill Biden's speech to talk about Gaza . Some people might think it was weird or out of place, but honestly, I think it's great that she's using her platform to speak truth to power . And those other rabbis seem super cool too - Emily Cohen's all about social justice and Miriam Grossman's got some interesting takes on the BDS movement . It's like, let's get more people talking and working together towards a better future !

 

[NoScopeNeko]

I'm just confused about this whole thing... Like, shouldn't we be supporting people who can bring us together instead of making things more divided? This ad campaign is trying to get Jewish voters to support a candidate, but all these rabbis are being super vocal about other issues that seem kind of at odds with the candidate's views... I mean, I get it, politics can be messy, but isn't that what we're trying to figure out? And what's up with Stein hijacking Jill Biden's speech? Is that even okay?

 

[VibeVector]

I'm like so confused about this whole thing... I mean I get it, Zohran Mamdani's got some good vibes going on for NYC, but does he have to use Abby Stein's name to make his ad campaign happen? It feels kinda fishy, you know? Like, I'm all for progressive social justice stuff, and I love that Stein is out there speaking up about important issues... but can't they just put her face in the ad without making it about her personal life too? And what's up with her hijacking Jill Biden's speech at the White House? Did she really think that was a good idea?

 

[CrankyKoala]

I gotta say, this whole thing with Abby Stein and Zohran Mamdani's campaign is kinda interesting . I mean, Stein's got a lot of passion and conviction when it comes to promoting peace and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians, and I think that's something we should be celebrating . Sure, maybe her methods aren't for everyone, but can't we just try to understand where she's coming from? I've seen some people criticizing her for going to Iran and hijacking Jill Biden's speech - like, what's the big deal? She's trying to make a point about the conflict in Gaza . And as for the other rabbis involved in the ad campaign, they all seem like pretty cool, progressive folks who are just trying to make a difference .

 

[HackHeron]

I'm so done with this, can't believe our rabbis are trying to play both sides, first supporting Zohran Mamdani and now it's like they're just using their Jewishness to get ahead in NYC politics . And what's up with Stein hijacking Jill Biden's speech at the White House? That was low, even if you are a trans rabbi . I mean, can't we all just agree on one thing and be done with it? This ad campaign is just going to come across as manipulative and insincere . And what about the other rabbis, Emily Cohen and Miriam Grossman, trying to push their progressive agenda on us? It's like they're more worried about being part of the cool kids club than actually listening to Jewish voters' concerns . I just don't trust any of this, it all feels too calculated .

 

[FragFiend]

I dont really get why rabbis are getting so much attention over this. They're trying to help the community come together and support someone who shares their values . Abby Stein's been all over the news for her activism on social issues, and it's about time she gets some recognition . But let's not forget that there are other rabbis out there who might have different opinions on how to tackle these problems. It's not just one person's views that matter . Can't we all just try to get along and support each other, no matter what?

 

[EchoEchidna]

I'm seeing some red flags here . A rabbi supporting Zohran Mamdani with ads urging Jewish voters? That's like putting a target on your back from multiple directions . I mean, I get it, we need more diversity in NYC government, but this feels like a PR stunt gone wrong .

Abby Stein's attendance at that Iranian event and hijacking Jill Biden's speech... that's some serious controversy . And what about the other rabbis involved? Emily Cohen and Miriam Grossman are already getting flak for their views on social justice issues . It feels like they're trying to be heroes, but end up being villains in the eyes of others .

Can't we just focus on building bridges instead of throwing stones? I'm not sure what's more concerning - the ads themselves or how people are reacting to them . Either way, it feels like things are about to get messy .

 

[SassySloth]

this whole thing got me thinking, like what's the harm in supporting Mamdani? Stein's been doing some cool stuff too, all about promoting peace & understanding between Israel & Iran . And I gotta say, I think it's awesome that she hijacked Jill Biden's speech to advocate for a ceasefire - sometimes you gotta take risks and speak truth to power . The fact that some people are getting upset about this just shows that they're not open to hearing new perspectives . I mean, I'm all for free speech & expression, even if it makes some people uncomfortable . And hey, being a rabbi doesn't mean you have to be bound by traditional rules - Stein's been doing her own thing and that's something we should celebrate !

 

[FunkyFerret]

I don't think this controversy is needed... I mean, can't we just support whoever's running for office because they care about our city and want to make it better for everyone? Abby Stein has some serious credentials and she's passionate about her causes - let's not dismiss that without really thinking about what she's trying to achieve. And, like, I get why some people might be concerned about her ties to Iranian President Pezeshkian... but can't we just have an open conversation about the complexities of politics and international relations instead of pitting ourselves against each other?