Zohran Mamdani posted a video on X celebrating the first night of Hanukkah with actor Mandy Patinkin and his family, joining in meal preparation, reciting the Shehecheyanu blessing and lighting the menorah. Patinkin praised Mamdani as more than a typical politician, calling him a "human-itician" committed to equity. The video comes days after Mamdani's newly named director of appointments resigned when old antisemitic posts resurfaced, and follows criticism over Mamdani's previous handling of the phrase "globalize the intifada." The clip appears intended to demonstrate outreach amid ongoing concerns.
Zohran Mamdani Shares Hanukkah Video With Mandy Patinkin Amid Staff Antisemitism Fallout
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani posted a video on his X account showing him celebrating the first night of Hanukkah with actor Mandy Patinkin and Patinkin's family. The clip, published Saturday, mixes a personal moment of religious observance with a backdrop of public controversy surrounding members of Mamdani's transition team.
In the Video
The footage shows Mamdani joining Patinkin, the actor's wife and son for dinner preparations, following recipes from a Jewish cookbook and family recipes provided by Patinkin. After the meal was prepared, the group recited the Hanukkah prayers together and Patinkin invited Mamdani to light the menorah.
"I wanted to do the Shehecheyanu because that's about new beginnings," Patinkin says in the video, adding that the evening represented a fresh start for his family, the city and beyond.
Before they sat down to eat, Patinkin also offered praise for Mamdani's approach to public life, calling him more than "just a politician" and coining the term "human-itician" to describe Mamdani's focus on equity and care for all people.
Catherine Almonte Da Costa, left, has apologized for past antisemitic posts that led to her resigning from a position in New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's administration.
Campaign Support
Patinkin and his wife previously appeared in a campaign video endorsing Mamdani, describing him as an "extraordinary human being" capable of leading the city — and, they suggested, inspiring broader change.
Controversy And Resignation
The Hanukkah video appeared days after Mamdani's recently appointed director of appointments, Catherine Almonte Da Costa, abruptly resigned when old social media posts resurfaced. Those posts, reportedly from 2011–2012 on a now-deleted X account, included antisemitic language such as references to "money hungry Jews," "rich Jewish peeps" and calling a Far Rockaway train "the Jew train." Almonte Da Costa has apologized and said the posts do not reflect who she is today.
Mamdani also faced scrutiny during the campaign over his initial response to the slogan "globalize the intifada." He was pressed to repudiate the phrase and later said he would discourage its use, amid broader concerns raised by critics and advocacy groups about antisemitic rhetoric connected to his campaign circle.
What This Means
The Hanukkah video appears to be both a personal moment of interfaith outreach and a public-relations effort to address concerns from Jewish communities and critics. While the clip highlights a conciliatory and celebratory interaction with a prominent Jewish actor, the resignation and earlier controversies underscore ongoing sensitivities Mamdani will face as he prepares to take office.
