NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s brother called Zohran Mamdani an “enemy” of the Jewish people during a private charity dinner Wednesday night — a scolding that comes on the heels of the incoming mayor’s decision to retain Tisch as the city’s top cop, two sources with direct knowledge of the comment told the Daily News.
Benjamin Tisch, the younger brother of the NYPD commissioner as well as the CEO of the Loews Corporation, took the shot at Mamdani while delivering remarks at an annual charity gala hosted by the Met Council, a nonprofit dedicated to combating Jewish poverty.
A source who attended the gala hosted at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Columbus Circle said some in the crowd were taken aback by Tisch’s comment, given that his sister just recently accepted Mamdani’s offer to remain NYPD commissioner once he’s sworn in as mayor Jan. 1.
“It was just like ‘Wow, he’s actually going to go there,’” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In comments after the initial publication of this story, Mamdani said Commissioner Tisch had reached out to his staff to apologize on her brother’s behalf.
“The commissioner apologized to my team for those remarks, and I look forward to being a mayor for each and every New Yorker, including Jewish New Yorkers,” he told reporters Thursday at a press conference in Manhattan.
New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch shake hands after their visit to the New York City Police Memorial, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
In a statement provided by her NYPD spokeswoman, the commissioner — who was retained by Mamdani despite their disagreements on a number of high-profile public safety matters — did not reiterate the apology. But she voiced confidence Mamdani will ensure the safety of all New Yorkers.
“I understand the fear in the Jewish community. My sincere belief is that the mayor-elect will live up to the commitment he’s made to be a mayor for all New Yorkers, including the Jewish community,” her statement said.
A rep for Benjamin Tisch didn’t return a request for comment.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist who’s set to become the city’s first Muslim mayor, has been a staunch supporter of Palestinian rights and a persistent critic of the Israeli government over its treatment of Palestinians. He has been particularly vocal on that front since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack.
Mamdani has been accused of fostering antisemitism by espousing certain views, such as questioning the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state. He has vehemently denied being antisemitic.
During the 2025 mayoral race, members of Tisch’s extended family donated more than $1 million to super PACs that advocated against Mamdani and boosted ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s campaign. Jessica Tisch herself did not donate to any candidates in the race.
Benjamin Tisch’s comment came just days after Marc Rowan, the CEO of Apollo Global Management, called Mamdani “our enemy” while delivering a speech at another Jewish charity gala Monday night.
Marc Rowan, co-founder and CEO of Apollo Global Management, speaks at the 28th annual Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on May 5, 2025. (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
From the other side of the debate, some pro-Palestinian activists have recently railed against Mamdani for retaining Tisch, arguing she’s not a good fit for due to their various policy clashes as well as their diverging views on the conflict in Gaza.
Benjamin Tisch’s shot at Mamdani during the Met Council gala came two weeks after his sister officially accepted Mamdani’s offer to remain at the helm of the NYPD.
First appointed police commissioner by Mayor Adams in November 2024, Jessica Tisch is on the record as opposing key planks in Mamdani’s public-safety platform, including his call for disbanding the NYPD’s controversial Strategic Response Group and gang database. She has also rejected his call to give the Civilian Complaint Review Board more power.
Mamdani has argued their disagreements are a good thing.
“The two of us will not shy away from the fact that we hold disagreements on certain issues … but I also believe that these disagreements are not only reconcilable, but they are the sign of a healthy partnership to come,” the mayor-elect said in an interview with The News last month.
