Erin Levi
QUEENS, NY—Hundreds of Jewish New Yorkers rallied in Queens on Sunday, October 26, in a powerful show of support for Israel and mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo, with the Bukharian Action Council leading the charge at a critical moment in the city’s political landscape.
The event, held at the Kew Gardens Hills Library on Vleigh Place, drew more than 300 attendees who filled the block outside the Haym Salomon Triangle—a location chosen for its symbolic significance. Haym Salomon, a Polish-born Jewish patriot, financed the American Revolution and supported George Washington’s army during its darkest hours, making the site a fitting backdrop for a rally about the Jewish community’s enduring role in American life.
«The Jewish community made New York, New York,» said Cuomo, a Queens native who graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School in nearby Briarwood. «New York is not New York without the Jewish community.»
The timing was deliberate: the rally took place just one day after early voting began in New York City, and in the middle of a contentious mayoral race in which frontrunner Zohran Mamdani has faced criticism for his statements about Israel and the war in Gaza.
Cuomo outlined an ambitious agenda for the city, promising to build 500,000 additional affordable housing units, hire 5,000 more police officers with 1,500 deployed to the subways, and send a welcoming message to businesses. He contrasted his decades of government experience with Mamdani’s record, emphasizing that «there is no on-the-job training for mayor.»
«God forbid there’s a crisis, there’s a hurricane, there’s a flood, a terrorist attack,» Cuomo said. «You need a mayor who knows and has the experience.»
The crowd responded enthusiastically, chanting «Cuomo! Cuomo!» and waving signs reading «Stand with Israel» and «No to Extremism.» Community security volunteers from Queens Shmira managed the crowd as TV cameras from local and national media outlets captured the scene.
Dr. Paul Brody opened the rally by singing Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, and recalled standing at the same corner in 1982 when Mario Cuomo, Andrew’s father, surged to victory after trailing in the polls. «Queens has the power to change history,» Brody declared. «We’ve done it before, and we’ll do it again.” He added, “This community’s voice is powerful, and we stand united for Israel.”
Several speakers took aim at Mamdani’s politics and association with the Democratic Socialists of America. Rubin Davidoff, a respected Bukharian community leader who escaped the Soviet Union 37 years ago, explained why socialism resonates as a threat to his community.
«Why did we come to this country? Why did we run away from the Soviet Union?» Davidoff asked the crowd. «The Soviet Union was a socialist country. It does not work. We had over 2 million people in the Soviet Union, most of them fled from oppression. If we become a socialist country or socialist city, only a few people up top would be getting basically the best out of the best. Everybody else will suffer.»
Mrs. Sorolle Idels, Chairperson of the Queens Jewish Alliance, brought energy to the stage, reminding attendees that Cuomo wore a yellow hostage pin from the start of the conflict. «Today is the first day of early voting,» she urged. «Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. Don’t let apathy take over!»
The rally also featured speeches from Assemblymember David Weprin, NYC Council Member Jim Gennaro—whose presence was particularly notable given that he had called for Cuomo’s resignation in 2021—and Assemblyman Sam Berger, who said, «Today we stand with Andrew Cuomo because he stood by us when times were tough.»
Cuomo concluded with a unifying message: «This city welcomes everyone: Christians, Muslims, Jews, Black, white, gay, straight. We celebrate our diversity, and that’s what makes us strong. You attack any of us, and you attack all of us!»
“Vote like you never voted before,” he added. “This is a vote to save our city.”
Among the many distinguished attendees representing the Bukharian and broader Jewish community were Rabbi Zalman Zvulonov and Rabbi Asher Vaknin of BJCC–Ohr Avner. Their presence, alongside Rubin Davidoff and the organizers from the Bukharian Action Council, reflected the Bukharian community’s deep engagement in this pivotal election and their commitment to supporting Israel during a time of international tension.
Sources: amNew York,
Queens Jewish Link