RNS Weekly Digest - 'The antisemitism tax': Jewish New Yorkers on fear, safety and Mamdani

'The antisemitism tax': Jewish New Yorkers on fear, safety and Mamdani

After two men, one wearing a kippah and the other Asian, were attacked in Manhattan in late July, the NYPD announced it would investigate the incident as a hate crime. The double-stabbing happened amid an uptick in antisemitic crimes in the city, which has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. ⁠ ⁠ Many Jewish leaders and residents have raised concerns about growing antisemitism in the city, with some arguing that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s recent criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified tensions. ⁠ ⁠ At what appears to be a critical moment in the mayor’s short history with the Jewish community and its long history of antisemitism, Religion News Service interviewed 18 Jewish New Yorkers about the impact of hate, their views on the mayor’s statements about the Israeli government and how they are feeling about their safety.⁠ ⁠ Their testimonies reveal growing concerns about the increase in antisemitic acts throughout the city and online, and a broad range of reactions to Mamdani’s comments about Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.⁠  Religion & Politics 'They're not real pastors': As clergy run as Democrats, Republicans question their faith Broken Arrow mosque leaders sue over alleged discrimination The House vote that split Jewish Democrats and is reshaping alliances Photos of the Week: Arbaeen pilgrimage, Pachamama offerings People gather to burn offerings to Pachamama, or Mother Earth, during an ancient ritual to pray for a good harvest on La Cumbre, a sacred mountain on the outskirts of La Paz, Bolivia, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) In Opinion Why Black Southerners should become Republicans What do we owe the victims of Lindsey Graham’s wars? Why did a pastor say he almost died from listening to a chatbot? And finally, The liturgy wars are back. Spoiler: They never left. Pope Leo XIV returned to Rome in late July from his summer vacation just as one of the Catholic Church’s longest-running internal conflicts came back into the spotlight. Prominent prelates were sparring on Catholic television and social media over how to address Catholics attached to the traditional Latin Mass, which had been sharply restricted by Pope Francis in 2021. The liturgy wars, as they are called in Catholic circles, concern how the Mass expresses the church’s theology, authority and tradition. After the church introduced the new rite, or Novus Ordo, in 1969, some believers remained attached to the traditional Mass, celebrated in Latin and with the priest’s back to the congregation. Support our responsible reporting on religion Forward this newsletter to a friend Make a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit newsroom here Or mail us a check: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205 Email membership@religionnews.com with a news tip or a comment Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Copyright © 2026 RNS, All rights reserved.