Zohran Mamdani posts Hanukkah video featuring Mandy Patinkin, family
- - Zohran Mamdani posts Hanukkah video featuring Mandy Patinkin, family
James Powel, USA TODAYDecember 22, 2025 at 12:43 AM
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Zohran Mamdani posts Hanukkah video featuring Mandy Patinkin, family
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani published a Hanukkah video Dec. 20, featuring Emmy- and Tony-winning actor Mandy Patinkin and his family.
In the video, Mamdani is seen making latkes, lighting menorah candles and participating in Hanukkah blessings.
"This is a new beginning that this family is grateful for, this city is grateful for and the world is grateful for," Patinkin says of Mamdani before performing the shehecheyanu blessing, a Jewish prayer performed to offer thanks for new experiences. "Your mayoral tenure ... has now been blessed."
It was such a joy to celebrate Hanukkah with Mandy, Kathryn and their son, Gideon. As Jewish New Yorkers across our city prepare to light candles and mark the seventh night today, I wish you and your families a Hanukkah full of light and love. pic.twitter.com/GOxL8Jl5wf
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) December 20, 2025
Mamdani's opponents and critics attempted to make his criticism of Israel a key issue in the mayoral race, claiming it was antisemitic.
The mayor-elect is a long-time activist for Palestinian rights, who has called for boycotting Israel and refers to its occupation of Gaza and the West Bank as "apartheid."
However, Mamdani reached out to the city's diverse Jewish communities during the race. He had difficult conversations with reform congregations in Brooklyn, met with Hasidic leaders, and had four rabbis speak in support of his candidacy.
Ultimately, the campaign's focus on affordability and Mamdani's affable personality won him his seat in Gracie Mansion.
Pictured here, Mamdani waves on stage after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) was elected Mayor of New York on Nov. 4, 2025. He was born in Uganda and moved to New York City with his family at the age of 7.
He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time. Pictured here, Mamdani waves on stage after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/HyfFw2876Rziy32GjW2xLA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NzA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/7d2087f9a3c2e1cb11cb446c7cc469ae class=caas-img data-headline="Meet Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor-elect" data-caption="
Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) was elected Mayor of New York on Nov. 4, 2025. He was born in Uganda and moved to New York City with his family at the age of 7.
He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time. Pictured here, Mamdani waves on stage after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
">Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) was elected Mayor of New York on Nov. 4, 2025. He was born in Uganda and moved to New York City with his family at the age of 7.
He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time. Pictured here, Mamdani waves on stage after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/HyfFw2876Rziy32GjW2xLA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NzA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/7d2087f9a3c2e1cb11cb446c7cc469ae class=caas-img>
Duwaji is a Syrian-American illustrator and animator. After the election of Mamdani as New York City Mayor, she is now the city’s first Gen Z first lady.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Zohran Mamdani met his wife, Rama Duwaji, on the dating app Hinge, a rival to Tinder and Bumble. The pair got married in early 2025.Duwaji is a Syrian-American illustrator and animator. After the election of Mamdani as New York City Mayor, she is now the city’s first Gen Z first lady.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/P8QxhxenQKfoYav.4QNjYw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5082880536a4283e99462162733b6698 class=caas-img data-headline="Meet Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor-elect" data-caption="
Zohran Mamdani met his wife, Rama Duwaji, on the dating app Hinge, a rival to Tinder and Bumble. The pair got married in early 2025.Duwaji is a Syrian-American illustrator and animator. After the election of Mamdani as New York City Mayor, she is now the city’s first Gen Z first lady.
">Zohran Mamdani met his wife, Rama Duwaji, on the dating app Hinge, a rival to Tinder and Bumble. The pair got married in early 2025.Duwaji is a Syrian-American illustrator and animator. After the election of Mamdani as New York City Mayor, she is now the city’s first Gen Z first lady.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/P8QxhxenQKfoYav.4QNjYw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5082880536a4283e99462162733b6698 class=caas-img>
Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participates in the second New York City mayoral debate with Independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York, on Oct. 22, 2025.
He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/VEaCMkKuKDz_vMGPVWFLpg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c5e6078878b851a55fb6f4edbf3995f3 class=caas-img data-headline="Meet Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor-elect" data-caption="
Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participates in the second New York City mayoral debate with Independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York, on Oct. 22, 2025.
He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time.
">Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participates in the second New York City mayoral debate with Independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York, on Oct. 22, 2025.
He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/VEaCMkKuKDz_vMGPVWFLpg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c5e6078878b851a55fb6f4edbf3995f3 class=caas-img>
1 / 20Meet Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor-electNew York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani arrives for a press conference at City Hall Park on Nov. 20, 2025 in New York. US President Donald Trump said he will host New York's Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for a meeting Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 after fiercely attacking the 34-year-old self-described Democratic Socialist during his recent campaign.
How Mamdani won New York: Be everywhere. Talk to everyone. Focus on affordability.
"He was human, he wasn't a part of the plutocracy, billionaire class," Kathryn Grody, Patinkin's wife, says in the Hannukkah message.
"I immediately felt that you weren't so much just a politician but something far more important to me, which was a human-itician," Patinkin adds.
Patinkin himself has been critical of Israel, saying in a June interview with the New York Times that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's actions in Gaza and the West Bank "are endangering not only the State of Israel, which I care deeply about and want to exist, but endangering the Jewish population all over the world."
Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NYC's Zohran Mamdani shares Hanukkah video with Mandy Patinkin, family
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